Mariah Carey 'secures $18m American Idol pay packet'... as she's given tips by her predecessor J-Lo (who earned $6m ...

By Jade Watkins

PUBLISHED: 22:59 EST, 23 July 2012 | UPDATED: 23:51 EST, 23 July 2012

Newly appointed judge Mariah Carey has reportedly trumped Jennifer Lopez when it comes to her American Idol pay packet.

The 42-year-old diva is said to be receiving a whopping $18m for her first year on the show, making her the highest paid judge on reality TV of all time, according to TMZ.

The sum is a massive $6m more than Jennifer earned for her first year on the show.

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Trounced: Newly appointed judge Mariah Carey has reportedly trumped Jennifer Lopez when it comes to her American Idol pay packet and is receiving a reported $18m

Trounced: Newly appointed judge Mariah Carey has reportedly trumped Jennifer Lopez when it comes to her American Idol pay packet and is receiving a reported $18m

Trounced: Newly appointed judge Mariah Carey has reportedly trumped Jennifer Lopez when it comes to her American Idol pay packet and is receiving a reported $18m

It also trounces Britney Spears's $15m pay packet for her judging duties on X Factor USA.

Despite Mariah receiving more money than Jennifer, the Latina star still however had some advice for the Butterfly singer, upon hearing the news that Mariah would be her successor.

The departing panellist believes Mariah will do great as long as she remembers it is all about the! contest ants.

Where's your smile? Jennifer could barely raise a smile as she stepped out with boyfriend Casper Smart in New York tonight

Where's your smile? Jennifer could barely raise a smile as she stepped out with boyfriend Casper Smart in New York tonight

Turning heads: The singer wore a white top and a pair of tight black leather trousers

Turning heads: The singer wore a white top and a pair of tight black leather trousers

Turning heads: The singer wore a white top and a pair of tight black leather trousers

She told E! News: 'There is pressure as far as the live shows, but you know what? Just remember you're there at the end of the day to help those contestants grow and to get to the end and to get to that finale.

'And whenever I thought about that it always made my job a little less pressure-filled and a littler easier, because it's not about you. It wasn't about me, it was about them. It was about helping them and that always made it a lot of fun for me. I'm going to miss it a lot.'

Jennifer is confident Mariah will be a success because she has so much experience in the industry.

She said: 'She's a musician for a long time she has a lot of experience. And it's that experience you offer them at the end of the day, the contestants just want to get better and grow through the process.'

Future rivals: Before it was announced today that Mariah was going to b! e the ne w judge on Idol, the singer was pictured hanging out with her future rival, X Factor USA judge L.A. Reid, a few days ago

Future rivals: Before it was announced today that Mariah was going to be the new judge on Idol, the singer was pictured hanging out with her future rival, X Factor USA judge L.A. Reid, a few days ago

Before it was announced today that Mariah was going to be the new judge on Idol, the singer was pictured hanging out with her future rival, X Factor USA judge L.A. Reid, a few days ago.

Reid tweeted some pictures of the pair in The Hamptons, cruising in the 56-year-old's black Bentley.

According to TMZ, Reid was actually trying to convince the Butterfly star to take the job.

The pair have been friends for several years, with Reid previously the CEO of her record label.

News that the Butterfly star had been brought on board to American Idol emerged today.

For several weeks it had been rumoured that she woul! d be in the running for the top job.

Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly said in a statement today that the network was thrilled to have the songstress on the team.

'Its the biggest recording artist than any of these [singing competition] shows have ever had,' he said during a press conference in Beverly Hills.

'Its an artist many of these contestants have tried to emulate. [The deal] only concluded only hours ago. Not being the only game in town we need to keep things fresh.'

Mr. Reilly then put Mariah on speakerphone to the room.

She said: 'I am so excited to be joining Idol. First of all, I wanted to be there today and I wish I could've been there to tell you, but I think you know this all kind of just happened real quickly, so I can't wait to get started in a couple months.'

She also expressed her excitement to her fans via Twitter.

'It's gonna! be so m uch fun working on @AmericanIdol,' she wrote. 'As a singer-songwriter, I'm excited to help find and nurture new talent. LYM! --MC'

Steven Tyler was first to announce that he was quitting Idol last week.

Not long after he confirmed he was leaving the talent show, Jennifer said that she was almost certainly going to make an exit too.

Despite reports that she was pushed out of American Idol by Fox network, Jennifer said that Tyler's exit from the singing competition was the real reason she decided to call it quits.

'We had magic,' Jennifer revealed in a new interview with ABC News reporter Amy Robach in Montreal, Canada.

'I dont know, with him gone, it might be a different formula,' she said during a break from her concert at Bell Centre in Montreal.

But over the weekend, The Los Angeles Times and Hollywood trade website Thewrap.com, both reported that Jennifer was 'dumped by [U.S. network] Fox after asking for a $2 million raise in salary,' which would have taken her pay to a whopping $17 million.

Sources told The Wrap that Fox also opted not to pick up fellow judge Steven Tyler's option to appear on the next season of the show.

According to thewrap.com, Jennifer was surprised that Fox did not try to negotiate with a counter offer when she asked for the extra cash.

Along with Jennifer and Tyler, sever! al repor ts are also hinting that long serving judge Jackson, 56, is also considering departing the show.

Before today's big announcement Mariah's husband Nick said that American Idol could not afford his talented wife.

Cannon said that she would cost show chiefs much more than the salaries paid to the departing panelists.

Nick told website TMZ: "I don't know if they can afford Mariah Carey. That's a lot of money. If they gave J-Lo $20 million, they might have to double that!"

This is not the first time Mariah has appeared on Idol.

The superstar appeared on the show as a guest judge during Season Seven.

But her stint was not met with positive reviews, for Mariah was reportedly a nightmare to work with, according to TMZ.


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