Kelly Clarkson Reveals She Never Got $1 Million Prize, New Car After ‘American Idol’ Season 1 Win

More than two decades after winning the inaugural season of American Idol, Kelly Clarkson says she never received the prize she was promised.

The 43-year-old singer and talk show host revealed on the Tuesday, March 10, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show that she’s still got a bone to pick with organizers behind the show who touted a whopping $1 million dollar prize and a new car.

The “Since You’ve Been Gone” singer made the revelation while welcoming Love Island alum Rob Rausch and actor Daniel Radcliffe. Rausch, 27, recently won season 4 of Traitors.

“So wait, is it $220,800 richer now? Is that what it is?” Clarkson asked of Rausch’s winnings.

“I think that’s right,” Rausch replied, to which Clarkson said, “That’s a nice number so what was the moment that you took that in? That changes your life.”

“They still haven’t paid me,” Rausch said.

“You know what? I relate to this so hardore. You probably weren’t alive when I was on American Idol but I literally was on the show and they were like, ‘Oh you win a million dollars or whatever.’ No you didn’t. They lied. You did not,” Clarkson said excitedly, leading to gasps and laughter from the crowd.

“It was like a million dollars worth of investment in you,” Clarkson added.

“Wait what?” a shocked Radcliffe let out.

“Yes! And then they said, ‘You get a car,’ and I needed it because my car was bashed in, and I couldn’t afford the deductible, and no! I did not get a car!” Clarkson said. “And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and [one for] his mom!”

Aiken finished as the runner-up on season 2 of American Idol.

“Unbelievable,” Rausch said.

Clarkson didn’t stop there. “I was like, what the f**k!? I remember Clay telling me that the second season, ‘Yeah they gave my mom one.’ And I was like, ‘I’m actually going to kick your a** right now.’”

“There should be some system where if you win something on the first season of something, whatever the prizes become, you should retroactively get them,” Radcliffe said.

“No, it was supposed to be the prize then. Ok? That’s what I’m saying,” Clarkson added, warning Rausch: “You might not see it.”

Clarkson may have been an early exception. In 2023, Carrie Underwood, who won season 4 of American Idol, revealed she still owns the blue Ford Mustang she won, reports said.