Simon Cowell turned down 250m pounds offer to stay with ‘American Idol’
By ANIWednesday, January 13, 2010
LONDON - Simon Cowell rejected a lucrative 250-million-pounds a-year offer to stay with the ‘American Idol’.
Simon Fuller reportedly offered him more than Oprah Winfrey’s annual 248million to stick with the talent hunt show.
But Cowell, 50, believes he can make bigger bucks by getting the The -X Factor to the US since he is the owner and producer of the show.
“I was offered a lot to stay but that wasn’t the reason behind going. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge,” the Daily Star quoted Cowell, as saying.
A pal said: “It’s a gamble - you don’t get an Oprah-style contract every day. But Simon is convinced he’s doing the right thing. With X Factor he’s not a hired hand. He’s in control and can do things the way he wants them done.”
Cowell’s rep Max Clifford said the X Factor deal with Fox “came about very quickly” and he would pull out of American Idol after the next series.
But Cowell has no plans to leave UK’s X Factor.
“I’m sure Simon will manage to juggle his work load to do both.” His departure from American Idol will be a blow to his rival Fuller, 49, who has produced eight series of American Idol,” Max said. (ANI)
