Simon Cowell scores $144m a year for Idol
Posted on June 30th, 2009 by Austin
With American Idol on current hiatus, salary figures for the upcoming season are now being leaked – and they make a quite a sickening read.
With income from his various works already tagged by Forbes Magazine at $72-million a year [including $36-million from last season's 'Idol,'] Simon Cowell has now been offered four times that amount to remain with the show when the next season starts – up to $144-million…A year.
American Idol is Fox’s crown jewel – netting around $900-million in income and fees, so Cowell’s new fee looks almost sane. And given the fact that, without him there’s no central ‘hate figure’ and no cat-fight with Paula, the aptly-named, ‘Judge Dread,’ is said to be eager to grab a fat slice of that pie.
“This is about properly owning himself. Everything he does – New formats and programs, not just the ones starring him,” a close friend told Post reporters.
And sources say this is merely ‘Step one’ in the former EMI mail-boy’s egocentric campaign to build an international home of production, management and merchandising combined, so the 49-year old Cowell can make more untold millions from just his ideas – without ever needing to do a day’s work.
Simon’s existing contract expires in May, and if he gets the new raise you can expect a lot more commercials. Fox has so far declined to confirm that the figures are right, but the talks are ongoing and we’ll keep you advised.
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