Celeb Best Blog

Ryan Seacrest's salary to host American Idol tripled in 2009 - jumping from $5 million a year to $15 million, paid in part by CKX, which owns the Fox hit. In addition to his $45 million, three-year deal to emcee the singing competition, which ends in 2012, Seacrest, 36, hosts his KIIS-FM radio show, produces the Kardashian reality show franchise for E! and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Altogether he earns $55 million a year. He doesn't come cheap, but Fox can certainly afford him. Though operating costs for American Idol rose 17% in the last year, Forbes estimates the program earns $7.11 million every half-hour for News Corp.

Are Ryan Seacrest, 35, and Julianne Hough, 21, have tried to keep things quiet, but in recent weeks, they've been spotted getting cozy all over Los Angeles. On June 13, the couple walked on the beach in Malibu with their arms around each other. Three days later, they dined at intimate new L.A. hotspot Red O restaurant, where a diner says Seacrest was very attentive. And Sunday, Hough accompanied the Seacrest on another outing in Malibu, where the two shopped at Alice + Olivia. Hough, who split from country star Chuck Wicks last year, was also linked with comedian Dane Cook in March.