NEW YORK, July 1, 2009
Cowell Reaching for $144M in "Idol" Gold?
Grumpy Judge Said To Seek Mega-Hike From $36M Payday
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Simon Cowell, judge of "American Idol" (AP)
The pay hike he's reportedly seeking?
Try $108M on for size. That's just the hike -- not the total pay package!
Cowell, who earned $36 million this year, is said to want a raise of as much as $108 million, which would bring his compensation to a whopping $144 million.
Of course, that doesn't mean he'll get it.
On "The Early Show" Wednesday, co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez said talks could result in less, but probably nothing lower than $100 million for the so-called grump judge.
"Early Show" weather anchor and features reporter Dave Price kidded that Cowell's pay raise is due to the higher cost of living.
"Do you know what a Bentley (car) runs now?" Price joked.
Rodriguez and Price said many people probably couldn't imagine "Idol" without Cowell. Rodriguez called him the "linchpin" judge. Price said he was a show "cornerstone."
Wherever the numbers wind up, Rodriguez said Cowell's pay is a fraction of the $900 million "Idol" takes in. She called the raise "chump change."
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