Mariah Carey gets $18 Million to Judge American Idol

Mariah Carey is the highest paid judge in reality television. American Idol is paying her $18 million to judge the show for ONE YEAR. OMG.

FESTIVE! FESTIVE! FESTIVE! OMG I love American Idol so much! Long Live Idol!

My judging panel: Randy Jackson, Adam Lambert and Mariah Carey! PERFECTION!

From TMZ:

Mariah Carey just became the HIGHEST PAID JUDGE in reality television ... because her one-year deal with "American Idol" is worth close to $18 MILLION ... this according to sources connected to "Idol."

Carey's deal dwarfs the contract Jennifer Lopez signed when she joined the judge's table -- J.Lo only scored a measly $12 mil for her first year on the show.

Carey also blows past Britney Spears ... who's making $15 million on "X Factor."