WHAT has been long suspected about bad blood among the judges on “American Idol” over money was confirmed over the weekend.
Nigel Lythgoe, the former executive producer of “Idol,” says that Simon Cowell is earning $36 million a year from Fox for the show – far more than his counterparts, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
Jackson’s and Abdul’s “salary has never been advertised and Simon has been in Forbes which is why I am talking about it,” Lythgoe told an Australian newspaper.
“But there is always jealousy in every job.
“Why is he getting more than the other two judges? Because it is believed that he brings more to the table.”
Lythgoe, who quit the show at the end of last season to concentrate full-time on his own series, “So You Think You Can Dance,” believes Cowell is worth every penny that he’s paid.
“He has actually handled his negotiations quite brilliantly,” Lythgoe says.
Cowell’s negotiating strategy has been never to sign a contract for longer than 12 months.
“He’s only ever negotiated by the year,” Lythgoe said. “And now he is getting something like $22,000 per minute.”