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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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User comments
Fair play to him !
Posted by: tlloyduk on Wed Jul 01 01:56PM | Report abuseHE IS A VERY CLEVER MAN BUT THE WAY HE INSULTS SOME OF THE HOPEFULS ON THE TALENT SHOWS SHOWS HIS TRUE CHARACTER THE MAN IS A FIRST CLASS PRATT
Posted by: superjstark on Wed Jul 01 01:57PM | Report abuseAwesome! £88m does seem a little over the top, but if people are stupid enough to pay it, then fair play to him for taking it.
Posted by: matthew_r_rayner on Wed Jul 01 01:57PM | Report abuseas long he stays in the u.s.he wont be missed here
Posted by: thomascassidy299 on Wed Jul 01 01:57PM | Report abuseWow! Is anyone person really worth that much? whats he gonna do with it all!
Posted by: niar_uk on Wed Jul 01 01:57PM | Report abuseHow incredible no way is he worth that, give it to the hungry people not him
Posted by: alanjmckechnie on Wed Jul 01 01:57PM | Report abuseI don't care how much he earns because I don't personally contribute a penny to it.
Posted by: pauldrew100 on Wed Jul 01 01:58PM | Report abuseI think its wrong to be paying that much money to one person. at a time when most people are struggeling to find jobs or getting let go its the complete disproportionate pay for higher managers etc that ruins industries.
Posted by: peter.houston3 on Wed Jul 01 01:58PM | Report abuseIt's all about advertising revenue around the shows - if the show pulls the numbers in then the advertisers will pay top price for the slots. This gives the shows the power to pay silly money for the performers. I wouldn't pay anyone that kind of money but if you can get it I can't blame people for taking it. It's crazy money.
Posted by: a_thousand_hats on Wed Jul 01 01:59PM | Report abuseno I don't think he's that much. Prob 40 mill
Posted by: rogersombe on Wed Jul 01 01:59PM | Report abuse