Report: Simon Cowell Was Offered $100 Million To Stay On ‘American Idol’

Simon Cowell has announced he’s walking away from “American Idol” – but is he also walking away from a $100 million paycheck?

According to the New York Post’s Page Six, that was reportedly the offer on the table to keep Simon at the “Idol” judges table.

Last June, the paper reported Simon was being offered $144 million to stay, but Simon wouldn’t comment at the time on figures.

As for the new report, another source said Simon was offered less than $100 million, and FOX didn’t clear matters up by declining to comment to the paper.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Simon announced earlier this week he would be leaving “American Idol” at the end of this season to kick start his British singing competition “The X Factor” stateside.

But at least one person has used Simon’s “Idol” departure to take aim at the Brit – his co-worker Ellen DeGeneres.

“Ellen [DeGeneres] sort of saw the funny side,” Simon said, according to the paper. “She was kidding around with me, saying: ‘On my first day you decide to quit?’ She’s professional. I don’t think it was a total surprise.”

A source also told Page Six’s Friday edition that Simon is interested in hiring music executive Tommy Mottola to judge on “The X Factor.”

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