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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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good luck to the guy! i have never watched any of his shows.
Posted by: horseplayer.t21 on Wed Jul 01 02:02PM | Report abuseNO BODY is worth that sort of money!! BUT!!! if any body else gets it, he is as good as any and a lot, lot, lot better then most, he's the only reason that many of these sort of shows work so well.
Posted by: lindamgalloway on Wed Jul 01 02:02PM | Report abuseStupid money. Why pay him so much?! Other people work just as hard and get paid buttons!
Posted by: jgulliford2001 on Wed Jul 01 02:02PM | Report abusefar to much in the current climate
Posted by: jamesdean2002uk on Wed Jul 01 02:03PM | Report abuseWell of course £88m is excessive, but the value of something is the price someone is prepared to pay - simple rule of a free market. As a pensioner of 73, I wish I could command just 1% of Simon's fee, but then by the above, I must not be worth it ????
Posted by: johnabramston on Wed Jul 01 02:03PM | Report abuseI cant stand the guy, now I CANT STAND HIM EVEN 4 TIMES MORE.
Posted by: polybizinfo on Wed Jul 01 02:03PM | Report abuseNO
Posted by: seangardner1 on Wed Jul 01 02:04PM | Report abusemoney has no value and celebrities have no concience
Posted by: johnlloyd08 on Wed Jul 01 02:04PM | Report abuseHe doesn't need that kind of money, so if he gets it I hope he gives it to charity.
Posted by: mad_mat2004 on Wed Jul 01 02:04PM | Report abuseyes is worth it he is a god
Posted by: ford604 on Wed Jul 01 02:04PM | Report abuse