No Idle Time for Simon's Bank Account

Former Idol exec producer reveals salary discrepancy between Cowell and fellow judges

So much for equality in the workplace.

Nigel Lythgoe, whose seven-year tenure as American Idol executive producer ended in August, has apparently decided to stoke the flames of jealousy among his former colleagues, confirming what most have long assumed—that Simon Cowell could buy and sell his fellow judges without breaking a sweat.

Owing partly to his refusal to sign a contract extending beyond a 12-month period and partly (OK, mostly) to the fact that he, more than Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, let alone new hire Kara DioGuardi, makes the show, Cowell's going rate is "something like $22,000 per minute," Lythgoe estimates.

Economic crisis? What economic crisis?

"I think Simon is now earning something like $36 million a year from Fox alone, but they can afford to pay him that because at one point we heard Fox were getting something like $900,000 and $1 million per 30 seconds in advertising revenue," Lythgoe said while speaking at the Australian Commercial Radio Conference on Friday.

And Cowell, per Lythgoe, is worth every penny.

"So while Idol is taking the network from fourth to first on the ratings, then they are giving away a small portion of their cake, really."

And while Cowell is getting a nice portion, Abdul and Jackson have apparently been left with crumbs—at least seven-figure crumbs, but crumbs in comparison.

"[Jackson and Abdul's] salary has never been advertised and Simon has been in Forbes, which is why I am talking about it," continued the ax-grinding Lythgoe, whose exit from the show was supposedly due to money matters.

"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."

Including business savvy.

"He has actually handled his negotiations quite brilliantly...He's only ever negotiated by the year."

Jackson and Abdul's agents, take note: The one silver lining, for Cowell's dining companions if not his colleagues, is that the tight-shirted one isn't as stingy as he appears.

"Whenever we go out to dinner, he is certainly the first one to put his credit card down."

Someone get this man a sainthood.