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Simon Cowell has reportedly been offered £88 million to appear on the next series of American Idol.
The deal is four times the £22 million he currently receives for the show and it follows fears from US network Fox that he may quit when his current contract ends next May.
American Idol, which has just finished its eighth season, regularly attracts audiences of up to 25 million in the US.
The news comes days after it was reported that The X Factor judge is setting up a new media company with Top Shop boss Sir Philip Green. The business would see Cowell take full ownership of all of his work, as opposed to just performance fees for appearing on shows such as American Idol and Britain's Got Talent.
A source told the Guardian: "He is past the old-style music deal, where you take a cut as a performer. This is about properly owning himself, Brand Cowell, everything he does, new formats, and new programmes, not just the ones starring him."
Cowell's mammoth pay increase comes at a time when other UK-based stars are facing massive cuts to their salaries. Bruce Forsyth is said to be taking a £160,000 pay cut to present the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, while the presenters on GMTV are facing cuts of up to 25 percent.
Amazingly, if Simon Cowell accepts the offer it won't actually make him the highest paid star on TV. That title belongs to Oprah Winfrey who rakes in an incredible £136 million each year.
Do you think Simon Cowell is worth £88 million? Are TV presenters overpaid or do they represent value for money? Let us know what you think...
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overated, overpayed, try living on benefits! @#$%.
Posted by: teresabooker44 on Wed Jul 01 01:55PM | Report abusewell if its on the table I would take it - go for it Simon
Posted by: martin_s_anderson on Wed Jul 01 01:55PM | Report abuse88 million for sitting on his arse and criticising people? does this question even need to be asked? "Are TV Presenters overpaid"....
Posted by: csolidcd on Wed Jul 01 01:55PM | Report abuseWell done Simon what a shame you are not in Politics, your brand of telling the truth is sorely missed currently.
Posted by: andrewbrowning1 on Wed Jul 01 01:55PM | Report abuseYEAH I'D SAY SO . . . IF RONALDO IS WORTH £80M THEN SIMON MUST BE WORTH MORE AS HE DOESN'T FALL OVER ALL THE TIME
Posted by: jon.lloyd100 on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuseThis is ridiculously high salary.... I am sure if all TV channels take an unanimous move to reduce the salaries for all TV presenters no one will come up to argue as they know there is definitely someone better than them.. and as it says 'Britain has got talent'
Posted by: sachin_theoptimist on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuseGood for him. He is a marketing genius who worked hard to get where he is, like him or not. I do however think that if that were me, I'd give a substantial amount to charity. I'd also possibly set up a foundation to assist up-and-coming artists and performers, instead of making money out of them all the time.
Posted by: starpeoplemusic28 on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuseObscene sum for an ignorant opinionated pleb who has no manners, no talent but appeals to a world of brain dead non contributors to anything intellegent who need somebody to form their opinions for them. They are slaves to idiocy.
Posted by: les.ingram on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuseGood for him, well done Simon
Posted by: desparatedan2003 on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abusethey are all overpaid
Posted by: marita.bradley on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuse