Jennifer Lopez lands $17.5m deal to return to American Idol

Jenny From the Block can now add more 'rocks' to her collection.

MailOnline has learned Jennifer Lopez, 44, is being paid an astounding $17.5m to return to her post as judge on American Idol next season.

'There was a lot of back and forth negotiating on her salary, but now it's finally been settled that Jennifer will earn $17.5m to go back to Idol next season,' a source told MailOnline exclusively.

'It's a major coup for her to land a huge payday like that and I believe she is thrilled with that number. It's a lot more than the $15m Britney Spears was paid to do The X Factor.'
In mid-August there were rumours that Jennifer, the mother of five-year-old twins Max and Emme, was getting a $15m salary for her third season of Idol, but the figure is actually higher.

The $17.5m salary is a big leap from the $12m paycheck J-Lo was handed for her first season of Idol in 2011. For her second season she was given a $3m raise to $15m.

It was reported last year that when Jennifer asked for another $2m raise to come back for her third season the Idol producers refused and she walked.

Steven Tyler made his exit too, although it's not clear if that had to do with salary negotiations.

Steven and J-Lo were replaced by Mariah Carey, who was paid a reported $18m, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban. Keith is returning next season with former judge Randy Jackson serving as a mentor.



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