Crazy Paula Paid Crazy Less

American Idol pays Cowell $36 million a year
By Sarah Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 14, 2008 11:23 AM CDT
Crazy Paula Paid Crazy Less
"American Idol" judges, from left, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson arrive at a promotional event for the show Aug. 26, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Turns out Paula is paid pennies to pounds. Fellow American Idol judge Simon Cowell rakes in $36 million a year from the show—that's $22,000 per minute—while her take is in the $5 million to $8 million range, MSNBC reports. A former executive producer explains that Cowell "brings more to the table.” Ouch. “This could really put her in a bad way," says a source who works with Abdul.
(More American Idol stories.)

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