SIMON COWELL SOARS UP RICH LIST

American Idol's Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell has soared up Britain's Rich List after amassing a $200 million fortune.The 'American Idol' judge is now the 700th richest person in Britain, shooting up an incredible 244 places from 944th in the annual poll compiled by Britain's Sunday Times newspaper. Simon boosted his assets by $80 million in the past 12 months, almost doubling his bank balance, due to the success of the US TV talent show and several hit programs made by his UK production company SYCO, including 'XFactor'. He also signed a staggering $40 million deal with British TV network ITV. An industry source said: "Simon Cowell is the man with the Midas touch. Not only for him but for ITV, too."He's simply the hottest and most important showbiz talent around right now."Simon, 46, has now superseded singer Robbie Williams, who he told to "get agrip" when the singer entered rehab for addiction to pain killers. The troubled star only increased his wealth by $10 million to $200 million last year after his album 'Rudebox' flopped. Sir Paul McCartney is the richest man in pop, securing him 102nd place. Other stars to make the list include David Beckham, who is the richest soccer star in the world, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John and Harry Potter writer J.K. Rowling. The number one spot is held by steel mogul Lakshmi Mittal, 56, who has amassed an amazing $38 billion. The Sunday Times Rich List forms the basis for the TV countdown 'Britain's Rich List' to be aired on ITV tonight at 9pm.

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IDOL PAULA ABDUL'S AIRPLANE TANTRUM

American Idol's Randy Jackson Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell

"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul reportedly threw a "diva-like" tantrum while boarding an airplane recently, telling fellow passengers she was "too famous" to stand in line. Abdul was boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from San Jose to Burbank, Calif., when she reportedly demanded to be given special treatment and board the aircraft first. Eyewitnesses claim the star pushed her way to the front of a line of waiting passengers as one disgruntled commuter shouted, "You're no Sanjaya! You have to board like everyone else."A source tells MSNBC.com's the Scoop, "She pulled a major diva trip. The other passengers were not amused. She asked to be let on the plane and seated first."Abdul's spokesman has refused to comment.

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HALEY SCARNATO THROWN OFF WHILE SANJAYA MALAKAR CONTINUES TO ROCK !

Haley Scarnato leaves American Idol

This year’s “American Idol” gets closer to an end, but another contestant, Haley Scarnato, got voted off the show while Sanjaya Malakar continues to rock and roll into the hearts of America. Failing to impress the judges with her performance of disco classic “Turn the Beat Around,” the 24-year-old from San Antonio left the show saying "My life changed and it truly was a blessing and I'm very thankful." She vows to continue her career is is very happy with the chance she was given on American Idol. "The bad comments are hard, but it helps to know there are people out there who like me and support me," Scarnato added. "I'm hoping for anything to come my way. This has been a great experience with great exposure and I'm up for anything. I would love to get a record deal, it would be a dream come true," she said. In this performance, it wasn’t just the singing that was criticized by the jury, Scarnato’s outfits, which include sexy low-cut tops to short-shorts, were picked on as well. Simon Cowell implied Scarnato tried to take advantage of her looks to stay in the competition. (even know Sanjaya looks better) "I think you have a very good tactic at the moment, Haley: Wear the least amount of clothes as possible," Cowell said of her performance. Scarnato reportedly didn't speak to Cowell following her exit on Wednesday night. "I didn't go shorter. I didn't wear less clothes," Scarnato said. "... I never changed my look from Hollywood week [when] I showed my midriff a bit." She claimed in an interview she was trying to stay true to her roots: "I just tried to do the best I could do, and that was that," she said. "It hurts of course; its just legs. It's frustrating because I'm trying to perform and it was a singing competition and I thought they weren't listening to me anymore. You can't please everybody," she said in a press conference the day after her elimination. She also defended her choice to wear her skimpy outfits. "It's fun dressing up and playing the part of the theme week, and the song you are singing. With Latin week it's more of a sexier vibe," says Scarnato. "I don't think I wore less clothes than before. I think I stayed true to who I am." Post performance, Cowell commented: "You naughty little thing." Scarnato quipped she would have tried a new look on the show's upcoming country-music night. "If I was going to be here next week, I was going to wear a choir robe," Scarnato said. However, let’s not forget about Sanjaya Malakar, this season’s man of mystery who successfully managed to escape elimination, moreover, he wasn’t even voted among the bottom three. According to TMZ.com, former Idol contestant, Paris Bennett said she hopes Sanjaya will win, calling the contest a joke. "We want to see Sanjaya win because it'll kind of prove that 'American Idol' is kind of losing its taste," says Bennett, "it kinda isn't going for talent anymore and more for popularity."

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PLEASE SHUT UP NON IDOL SIMON COWELL

The Real Boss Bruce Springsteen

Simon Cowell says he is bigger than The Boss. In an interview to be screened on CBS’s 60 Minutes program in the US on Sunday, Cowell, who is also a judge on the American Idol series, says he is worth five times more to Sony than Bruce Springsteen.“I sell more records than Bruce Springsteen, sure,” Cowell says of the 57-year-old rocker, who signed a contract that was reported to be in the neighbourhood of $100million .“I mean, in the last five years, I’ve probably sold over 100 million records. If (Springsteen) got $100 million, I should have got $500 million,” he says. Cowell says he sells all those records because he has signed “the biggest artist on the planet” – Fox network’s American Idol. “Every single ’Idol’ winner is now signed through Sony BMG,” says Cowell. “And this applies to … all the countries … we sell Idol to, which is over 30 countries.”Albums by American Idol winners and runners-up are distributed by labels within the Sony system through a deal between Clive Davis and 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by American Idol creator Simon Fuller. Interviewer Anderson Cooper asks Cowell, 47, whether his deal with Sony is in the same neighbourhood as Springsteen’s.“A hundred million … that’s a great deal,” Cowell says. Was he referring to himself or Springsteen?“For him,” Cowell says, grinning. “For him it’s a good deal.”

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JENNIFER HUDSON STRIKES SIMON COWELL

Jennifer Hudson Can't Stand Simon Cowell

Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson has hit back at "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, comparing her experience on the talent show to working at Burger King. Hudson -- who was a contestant on the show in 2004 -- was rejected and tipped for failure by Cowell. When she went onto Oscar success through her role in "Dreamgirls," Cowell accused Hudson of failing to appreciate the "big opportunity" her appearance on the show offered her. But Best Supporting Actress Hudson snaps back, "If I'd been any better at my job when I was at Burger King in my middle teens I wouldn't be here either, so should I thank them, too?"

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THE INSIDE HOLLYWOOD PAPARAZZI BUZZ

Why Is She Being Nice ?

Hey, we finally figured it out! We now know why Cameron Diaz is being so nice to us as she leaves The Gym On Nemo each day in West Hollywood. It is the endorphins silly! She gets pumped up and feels great. Now I would not advise trying to take her photo when she enters the gym. We love this town!

No Dress Code For The Rich !

When you have the money and power like Simon Cowell has you can dress as you like. Here he is at The Ivy the other day. No one here in L.A. knows who has dough by looking at what they drive or how they dress. Luxury car sales people learned long ago not to brush off potential customers looking for a Ferrari and dressed like a slob. We are happy that Simon is loaded with dough, but this photo of him solo is not worth too much. Now, if he was clinging to Nicolette Sheridan, that would be another story.

Blast From The Past.......
Magazines are always doing stories about what stars are doing decades after their fame as vanished. Remember Malcolm Jamal-Warner from The Cosby show? We found him yesterday having a power lunch with Regina King. Maybe we can get dinner for two at Greenblatts Deli with the proceeds of this photo. Certainly no Ivy meal with this one.

Photos: BuzzFoto

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COURTNEY LOVE MAY JOIN AMERICAN IDOL

Courtney Love has been invited to be a judge on 'American Idol'.The former Hole singer has revealed the hit TV show's executive producer Nigel Lythgoe called her last week to ask if she'd be interested in joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson on the judging panel. Courtney told Us Weekly magazine: "He called. He was wondering if I was interested. I thought it was kind of weird but brilliant."It is not known if Courtney will be joining the existing three judges to choose America's next singing sensation, or if Lythgoe is considering replacing Paula. Paula - known for her bitter ongoing feud with Simon - has fuelled rumors that she is battling substance abuse by appearing in a series of interviews this January where she was seen swaying and slurring her words. A representative for 'American Idol' was not available for comment.

Hole Singer Courtney Love