wearetheborg

I just found out about Stern's 2005 deal where he got 500 million... Holy cow, do any of the TV late night hosts get close to that ?

JuryDuty

No, think that was a pretty lucrative deal. Though I suppose it depends on how long that deal is for. For instance, Letterman's current salary is believed to be over $30 million/year. In 2004, Leno's deal was $27 million/year.

Red Dog

Wasn't a lot of that $500M in stock, which quickly became worthless?

islandclaws

Yes, I think it was 1/2 in stock and 1/2 payable over the next 5-10 years. They didn't just hand him a large check for $500m.

siddd5

Poor Howard. How does he live on the 250?

Rumor has it, 'Idol' wants him to replace Simon.

Snowmaker

Howard has mentioned how he'd be a good replacement. Not sure I've heard the topic brought up by any other sources though.

leacha

No because as soon as the deal was announced stock went up. As soon as Howard could liquidate the stock he did so. In effect collecting his $500 mil before the stock took a dump.

Deftones

Stern didn't get $500 million. That was the amount of the deal to bring the Stern show to Sirius, not what he got paid.

siddd5

Not that 'Page 6' is the definitive word on it, but they quote Idol producers saying that they want him.

DRG

I could just imagine him leering at the female contestants...

"Look at you... turn around for me."

dolphinboy

Letterman also get a HUGE amount of money from Everybody Loves Raymond. Considering how much syndication makes the big players in a hit show, he probably makes at least another 10-15 million from that on top of his talk show salary.

He could give my family 1 million/yr of his Raymond money and never notice it was gone.

Why wouldn't he do that?

wearetheborg

What is the connection between Letterman and Everybody Loves Raymond ?

dolphinboy

The show was a World Wide Pants production and WWP is owned by Mr. Letterman.

Decker

If I recall correctly, Howard sold that stock immediately, which was clearly the right move there.

Damfino

That would be one way to get me to watch American Idol.

Red Dog

Yeah, same here. I have no interest in that crap, but Stern on it would require me to tune in.

alfredog1976

I doubt Stern would take the Idol job, knowing how much of a p*#sy he is about flying

Nefarious

He just needs to pick up Madden's old bus. They can space the audition stages out enough to account for road travel. Then he just has to set up camp in Hollywood for a while for the live stuff.

Red Dog

Hell if they got Stern to sign, they'd move it to NY.

Charlie Goose

I used to be a big fan of Stern, but him on Idol would be awful.

Trevor

How so? It might not be good, but it couldn't be worse than it is now.

Snowmaker

He would have had a field day with Bikini Girl

Hokeyboy

Stern wouldn't take the Idol position anyhow... after Cowell leaves it's going to be a sinking ship, and he's savvy enough to avoid that sort of situation will ruin your image; a popular notion of "Stern takes over for Cowell and ruins Idol" devalues his worth.

bluetoast

Stern already attempted to ruin American Idol with the Sanjaya voting, so it shouldn't be a problem either way.

outcastja

So Simon's new show is going to be on FOX? I thought it was going to go to a competing network.