Cowell makes a mint from latest talent show

Square-haired pop guru Simon Cowell is now worth around £200 million after selling his latest talent show around the world.

The hit TV show America's Got Talent now airs in 40 countries around the globe, including some as diverse as Kazakhstan, Israel and Greece.

Cowell has made a fortune out of his string of talent competitions, which have been gobbled up by the viewing public.

His spokesman told the Daily Mail: "He's got the X-Factor, he knows exactly what people want and aren't getting.

"Whether it's music or television, he has had the most amazing success by backing his own judgment."

As a judge on American Idol, Cowell pockets £13 million a series, while his deal with ITV for the X-Factor won him a £20 million contract over three years.

He also receives royalties from all singles by American Idol and X-Factor stars that he produces and sells.

And Cowell admits his will to win began at a young age. "It goes back to being a kid when you're losing at Monopoly and you throw the board up in the air," he said. "It's irrelevant what the prize is, I just want to beat the competition."

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