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In an interview to be screened on CBS's 60 Minutes programme in the US on Sunday, Cowell, who is also a judge on the American Idol series, says he is worth five times more to Sony than Springsteen.

"I sell more records than Bruce Springsteen, sure," Cowell says of the 57-year-old rocker, who signed a contract that was reported to be in the region of 100 million dollars (£50 million).

"I mean, in the last five years, I've probably sold over 100 million records. If (Springsteen) got 100 (million dollars), I should have got 500 (million dollars)," he says.

"Every single 'Idol' winner is now signed through Sony BMG," says Cowell. "And this applies to all the countries we sell Idol to, which is over 30 countries."

Albums by American Idol winners and runners-up are distributed by labels within the Sony system through a deal between Clive Davis and 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by American Idol creator Simon Fuller.

"A hundred million... that's a great deal," Cowell says. Was he referring to himself or Springsteen?"For him," Cowell says, grinning. "For him it's a good deal."

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