Simon Cowell's 'Idol' Salary Could Be $144 Million A Year: Report

New York Post:

EARLY salary figures from Simon Cowell's "American Idol" contract negotiations are leaking out and they're eye-popping.

Cowell, who reportedly made $36 million last year for judging the hit competition show, has been offered three or four times that amount -- between $100 million and $144 million per year -- by co-producers Fox and 19 Entertainment to stick with "Idol" when his contract expires next May, according to The Guardian, a London newpaper.

Read the whole story: New York Post

Comments

[lthuedk 1]

The dumbing down continues.

[wadenelson1]

That's obscene.

[petera63]

Envious?

[YankinTex]

I doubt this figure is true. Maybe if you add in all potential revenue streams from all of the singers, and give Simon a cut, or something, on the best day possible it would all add up to 144M. But I guarantee you nobody is writing a check in that amount.

[Sensiblebg]

Where's the outrage at this salary HuffPo?? If he was a corporate CEO you would be calling for his head!

[BlueIndependent]

Um, check some of the comments.

[klondiker]

First, I think there's plenty of outrage on this board, if you read the comments.

Second, a lot of the outrage about CEO salaries was because they were getting taxpayer money. As far as I know, American Idol has not received a government bailout.

[Austrian School]

He deserves every penny. Just like every one of us deserve every penny we can make.

Stop being envious. Its not good for you.

[DaveVDave]

That is a tone of money, probably more than he really deserves to give his opinion, but I think I dol would net be the same and would really jump the shark if Cowell was not on it, so it is a good business case.

www.TheCommentDepot.compot.com

[stylenease]

There is no way that this bitter loudmouth deserves to get 144 million per year, much less for this assinign job. There are no jobs where the compensation should be that high.

[allkenz]

Simon is worth every cent because without him, that show would immediately die. He is irreplaceable if you compare him to Paula Abdul. If she left, the show would immediately improve!

[raymurt]

Never watched it, never will..

[radicalcentrist44]

The show, which is really nothing more than a karoke contest, generates more than $900 million, so it makes sense to pay $144 million a year for the star of the show. Every other person on the show can easily be replaced, but you cannot replace Simon. From a business standpoint, this makes sense.

[klondiker]

$900 million in gross earnings or net profits?? I guess it makes sense if they earn that much. My first thought was, "does the show even make that much money??"

[sockman]

Radical, no one needs to read beyond your comment. You pretty much nailed it.

[abirish]

Nobody is worth that kind of money. Professional sports players, Wall Street Professionals, or Simon.

[petera63]

Don't judge by yourself.

[smchp]

More proof that there is no god.

[YouDisgustMe]

LOL

[fcsakes]

Now that's a sin. I am so glad I don't watch that pathetic excuse for entertainment.

[happycat]

Sick.

[PocketWrench]

And to think people whine about pro athletes making $18 million a season.

[flapjack]

That's pretty obscene too.