A New York Times reporter managed to gain access to some financial figures for last year’s AI contest.

The highlights:

– Idol winners have never failed to earn less than $1 million in the year or so after the contest.

– Last year’s winner – Kris Allen – has already made $650,000.

– This year’s finalists in the Top 5 likely will earn close to $100,000 from the show. And it’ll be 3 or 4 times that much if one of the show’s producers sign them to a contract.

— Adam Lambert (his first-week album sales doubled Allen’s) — earned $300,000 in advance royalties for his album, received a $75,000 merchandising contract and another $50,000 in fees from Disney World for the Idol Experience attraction.

Want to read more? Following is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/arts/television/24idol.html