Simon Cowell is planning to feature America’s Got Talent stars in a new Las Vegas residency that is worth up to ‘£10million a year’, according to new reports.
The music mogul, 61, is said to have signed a new deal with the Luxor Hotel in Vegas, with the luxury venue used for a big live residency that could last ‘for years’.
According to The Mirror, Simon said at the weekend: ‘We open America’s Got Talent in Vegas at the Luxor this year. And Vegas and Got Talent is where they want to end up. We agreed to do it, so it happens this year.’
New deal: Simon Cowell, 61, is planning to feature America’s Got Talent stars in a new Las Vegas residency that is reportedly worth up to ‘£10million a year’
A source told the website: ‘It is no surprise that Simon is taking the next step. He can use his show to promote these stars. An added bonus is that Simon could introduce British acts from BGT.’
It was claimed the multi-million deal will feature twice-weekly shows with the winner of this year’s America’s Got Talent at the forefront.
It was also alleged that if the project proves successful, stars from international versions of the show, including from Britain’s Got Talent, could appear.
A Las Vegas showbiz source also told the website: ‘The market for the AGT acts in Vegas has been successful. So it is no surprise that Simon is taking the next step.
Exciting: The music mogul has ‘signed a new deal with the Luxor Hotel in Vegas and will use it for a big live residency that could last for years’
‘On top of that he can use his show to promote these stars. This could work out really well in the short and long term. And of course an added bonus is that Simon could introduce British acts from BGT there by having them in as special guests.’
A formal announcement about the shows will be made next month.
This won’t be the first time Got Talent stars have made their way to Las Vegas, Hungarian shadow theatre group Attraction were offered their own show in 2013.
Other iconic BGT stars who have enjoyed international success include Susan Boyle, Paul Potts and dance act Twist and Pulse.
Magician Shin Lim (who appeared in 2018’s series), singer Michael Grimm (2010) and classical crossover singer Jackie Evancho (2010) are some of the most famous winners of America’s Got Talent, while the likes of Susan, dance group Diversity (both 2009) and dog-human act Ashleigh and Pudsey (2012) are some of the UK’s biggest successes.
Owner: Simon conceived and owns the Got Talent franchise, meaning the TV judge has his pick of which acts make it to the coveted Vegas stage
Simon conceived and owns the Got Talent franchise, meaning the TV judge has his pick of which acts make it to the coveted Vegas stage.
As of 2018, Simon’s net worth had accumulated to approximately $550 million (£393m), according to Celebrity Net Worth.
MailOnline has reached out to Simon’s representatives for comment.
AGT: Magician Shin Lim (pictured), singer Michael Grimm and classical crossover singer Jackie Evancho are some of the most famous winners of America’s Got Talent
BGT: Susan Boyle (pictured right), dance group Diversity and dog-human act Ashleigh and Pudsey (pictured left) are some of the UK’s biggest successes
It comes after Simon reportedly pulled out of jetting to Israel to take part in their version of The X Factor due to the violence in Gaza.
According to Jewish News, the music industry titan pulled out of sitting on the panel for The X Factor Israel after having ‘legitimate concerns’ about travelling there.
The current eruption of violence in the Gaza Strip began last month in Jerusalem, where heavy-handed Israeli police tactics during Ramadan and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers ignited protests and clashes with police.
The X Factor’s production company, Reshet, said that Simon had pulled out ‘for his own reasons’ and that he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ by the decision.
A source added: ‘Simon won’t be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can’t be there in Israel to film the show now.
‘Of course he is bitterly disappointed – but it was a decision he had to take.’
A representative for Simon declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
The show had already been delayed due to the pandemic, originally intended to begin production at the end of 2020.
‘Legitimate concerns’: It comes after Simon reportedly pulled out of jetting to Israel to take part in their version of The X Factor due to the violence in Gaza
Simon was set to be a judge, alongside 2018 Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai, and singers Aviv Geffen, Margalit Tzanani, Miri Mesika and Ran Danker.
‘I can barely wait to see what the Israelis have to offer,’ was Simon’s comment when he was first slated to appear on the show.
Yet it seems he won’t be taking part at all as the the violent clashes between Arabs and Jews in Israel have resulted in terrible scenes not witnessed in more than two decades.
A focal point of clashes was Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, built on a hilltop compound that is revered by Jews and Muslims.
A source said: ‘Simon won’t be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can’t be there’
Israel regards Jerusalem in its entirety as its capital, while the Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state.
Simon reportedly has his hands full with other projects meanwhile, as he is said to be working on a new talent show with plans to air it on one of ITV’s ‘rival channels’.
The mogul is currently ‘weighing up his options’ and even considering taking his new show to a streaming platform such as Netflix instead of airing it on a terrestrial channel.
Projects: Elsewhere, Simon reportedly has his hands full with other projects meanwhile, as he is said to be working on a new talent show with plans to air it on one of ITV’s ‘rival channels’
The Sun reports that ‘Simon has told friends he is sick of competitors trying to out-do the brand, so decided he would do it himself’.
A source told the paper: ‘Simon is constantly thinking creatively of new ideas and shows, innovating and evolving all the time. He’s vowed that his next show will be bigger and better than BGT.’
They added: ‘He’s weighing up his options. Simon has a big vision and the likes of Netflix have hundreds of millions in their coffers to help make it a reality.’
Simon recently returned to the America’s Got Talent judging panel after breaking his back in a horrific bike accident.
Serious injury: Simon crashed a new e-bike in his home’s courtyard in August and broke his back, leaving him bedridden for months. He announced the crash on Instagram
The father-of-one had to undergo a six-hour surgery to have a rod inserted after the crash.
He was at least doing well enough after the accident to share a short message on his social media accounts.
‘Some good advice… If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time,’ he wrote ominously.
‘I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever me.’
Sitting it out: Simon recently returned to the America’s Got Talent judging panel after breaking his back in a horrific bike accident
