Simon Cowell is richer than you

Simon Cowell made $36 million last year for judging American Idol, but his contract expires in May. The co-producers of FOX and 19 Entertainment must really love him because they’ve offered him between $100 million and $144 million per year to stay. More than four times his previous salary.

While $36 million may seem like a lot of money for five months worth of snarky comments and eye-rolls, it’s only a fraction of the estimated $900 million that “Idol” rakes in a year. As the lynchpin of the show — without him there would be no one to hate and no dramatic tension with Paula Abdul — Cowell believes he’s due for a raise.

FOX and 19 Entertainment are really good mediators. They should handle hostage negotiations. When the bad guys ask for $3 million and a plane to fly to the Bahamas, they’ll counter with $10 million and their own private jet with an escort to fly to wherever they want. But, in their defense, they’ll be very firm about it being their final offer.