Paula Abdul Net Worth

What Is Paula Abdul's Net Worth and Salary?

Paula Abdul is a multifaceted American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and producer who has amassed a net worth of $20 million.

Paula's illustrious career has spanned four decades, evolving from a cheerleader to a global pop icon and reality TV star. After securing a spot on the Laker Girls' cheerleading squad, she quickly rose to the position of head choreographer. This role opened the doors to choreography gigs for television, music videos, films, and tours, including collaborations with the entire Jackson family and the iconic Janet Jackson's "Control" tour. Paula also choreographed for notable films like "Big," "Coming to America," "Jerry Maguire," "American Beauty," and countless other projects.

Paula won Emmy Awards for her choreography and launched a flourishing music career in the '90s, achieving six #1 hits and a Grammy Award. She returned to the limelight in the early 2000s as a judge on "American Idol," a role she held through 2009, leaving due to unsuccessful salary negotiations. Despite this, Paula continued to thrive, judging multiple shows and staying active in the pop culture scene. She hosted "So You Think You Can Dance" for two seasons (2015 and 2016) and reunited with Simon Cowell on the US version of "The X Factor."

"American Idol" Salary

Early reports indicate Paula's salary in the initial seasons of "American Idol" was $1 million per year.
By 2008, after renegotiating her contract, she earned between $5 million and $8 million per season.
For her 8th season, some sources suggest her salary might have peaked at $8 million.

Comparison to Other Judges:

Randy Jackson: Earned similar to Paula, roughly $5 million to $6.5 million per season.
Simon Cowell: The highest-paid judge, earning an astronomical $36 million per season.
Despite salary disparities, Paula has openly supported her fellow judges earning more. She congratulated Katy Perry on her $25 million salary, saying, "Good for her!"

Early Life

Born Paula Julie Abdul on June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, California, she began dance lessons early and was a cheerleader and honor student at Van Nuys High School. In 1980, she attended California State University, Northridge. During her freshman year, she made the "Laker Girls" squad and swiftly became head choreographer within a year. Her choreography career soared, prompting her to leave the university.

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Career

Paula's major break came when she choreographed "Torture" for The Jacksons, leading to more prestigious gigs including their "Victory" tour and Tom Hanks' iconic keyboard scene in "Big" (1988). She utilized her savings to record a singing demo, leading to her signing with Virgin Records. Despite being untrained as a singer, she received vocal coaching and produced the immensely successful 1988 album "Forever Your Girl," which became the best-selling debut album at the time, spending 10 weeks atop the Billboard chart. Her hit "Opposites Attract" won her a Grammy for Best Music Video.

Following a hiatus for personal reasons, Paula's 1995 album "Head over Heels" had moderate success. She also co-wrote "Spinning Around," which later became a hit for Kylie Minogue. She released several workout videos and continued choreographing, including for "American Beauty" (1999). By 2000, she parted ways with Virgin Records.

(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for WE)

"American Idol"

In 2002, Paula joined Fox's "American Idol" as a judge, renowned for her empathy and mentor style, in contrast to Simon Cowell's blunt approach, leading to captivating exchanges. Her 2008 single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" marked her chart return after 13 years. Paula left "American Idol" in 2009 over salary disputes, replaced by Ellen Degeneres.

Other Television Work

In May 2011, Paula reunited with Simon Cowell for the first season of "The X Factor US." Though not returning for a second season, she later judged on "So You Think You Can Dance" (2013) and its Australian version, before becoming a permanent judge for the American iteration for two years.

(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Return to Performing

Paula returned to the stage on August 6, 2016, with a full headlining set at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In 2017, she toured with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, her first tour in 25 years. In October 2018, she launched her solo tour "Straight Up Paula!" and started her Las Vegas residency "Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl" in August 2019, which concluded in January 2020.

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Personal Life

In 1994, Paula sought treatment for bulimia, a condition she struggled with since her teens. In April 2006, she sustained injuries from an assault at a party. Tragically, in 2008, an obsessed fan overdosed outside her home. Paula has been married twice: first to Emilio Estevez (1992-1994) and then Brad Beckerman (1996-1998). She practices Judaism and is a devoted dog lover.

Controversies

In 2004, Paula was fined and received 24 months probation for a misdemeanor hit-and-run. Throughout "American Idol," her behavior sparked substance abuse speculation, but Paula attributed it to pain medication for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).

Nigel Lythgoe Lawsuit

In December 2023, Paula filed a lawsuit against "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" producer Nigel Lythgoe for sexual assault. In her lawsuit, Paula described incidents of Lythgoe shoving her against walls and assaulting her during their years of working together.