[Red Moon]

Straight from X Factor to Barbados: Simon Cowell jetskis out of TV row

It was a case of: 'Phone scandal? What phone scandal?' for X Factor judge Simon Cowell, who has jetted off for a luxury holiday in the Caribbean.

The 48-year-old mogul jumped straight on a plane to Barbados with his girlfriend Terri Seymour after the show wrapped, avoiding the wrath of furious fans who claim the voting lines for Rhydian Roberts were blocked.

Despite the scandal engulfing the show, Simon looked carefree as he cruised around the water on a jetski.

And it's little wonder - the 48-year-old judge, who co-produces and owns the rights to the hit show, stands to earn an incredible £7.5million from the series.

As well as paying himself a reported £1.5million for his role as one of four judges - alongside Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue - the music mogul will make a further £6million from record sales from Leon Jackson who has automatically been signed up to his label, Syco.

n addition, the show's two previous winners, Leona Lewis and Shayne Ward, currently occupy the top two positions in the album charts respectively, with Miss Lewis' album the biggest and fastest selling British record of all time.

Indeed, Simon has netted himself a rather impressive £15million over the past year from the worldwide success of these two artists.

"The X Factor is one of ITV's most successful shows of the year and in Leona and Shayne, it has already produced two of the most popular artists of 2007," Max Clifford, Cowell's publicist, said before the final.

"Both stars are signed to Simon's record label and both have become international stars with record sales across the world. Whoever wins tonight's show also has the potential to earn him millions.

"Yet again Simon has proved himself to be the man with the platinum touch and out of everyone involved with The X Factor, it is Simon who will be having the merriest Christmas of all."

Source: Daily Mail