Simon Cowell Announces He's Leaving American Idol

Monday 50 year old Simon announced he was quitting the top-rated Fox TV show in May to launch his own singing contest next year. All good things or in some people opinion  bad things must come to in end. News broke yesterday Simon Cowell would be leaving "American Idol" for the UK version "X Factor, basically going to the competitor. 

Cowell said he had been offered "a lot of money" to renew his contract with "American Idol" sources say 100 million to do both.

 "But I felt like doing something different. I want to leave 'Idol' this year bigger and better than before," he said. "We did talk about me staying on both shows, but when we looked at the practicalities of that, it was impossible."

"I believe it ('Idol') is not my show, but it's still very close to me...I am confident it will continue to be the No.1 show," he said.

His contract ends in May 2010. Simon receives 36 million per year as an Idol judge.

The ninth season of the show starts on Tuesday, with Cowell in place and new judge Ellen DeGeneres joining Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. The only original judge left will be our DAWG Randy Jackson no reactions from Randy just yet on his thoughts of his B.f.f. leaving the "Dawg Pound".  But other judges have responded. 
 

Ryan Seacrest appears he will survive the departure of the sword tongue and tweeted:

"He is one of the most brilliant people in our biz! Congrats"