Winner of X Factor to receive $5 million prize

BEVERLY HILLS, California - The top finisher on Fox TV's new The X Factor will end up rich even if the winner doesn't become a music star.

Besides a recording contract, the winning singer or singers will receive a $5 million cash prize and be featured in a Super Bowl commercial for PepsiCo Inc, X Factor creator Simon Cowell said on Friday, speaking to reporters by satellite from England.

Previously, Fox had announced the prize was a $5 million recording contract. But Cowell said there will be a cash payment as well as recording expenses provided. He didn't specify the value of the contract with Syco, a joint venture between Sony Music and Cowell.

Cowell, a former American Idol judge, is bringing his UK-born show to Fox in September. Unlike Idol, the contest is open to both solo singers and groups and has a lower minimum age of 12 and no upper age limit. Like Idol, Cowell will be joined by Paula Abdul as a judge.

Others on the panel are Nicole Scherzinger, a former member of the Pussycat Dolls, and record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid. Steve Jones, a British TV personality, is the host.

Scherzinger, who was to share host duties with Jones, replaced British pop star Cheryl Cole as a judge when Cowell and other producers had second thoughts about Cole joining the US series.

Cowell said he tried to return Cole to her judging role on the UK X Factor, believing she'd be more comfortable there, but the deal fell apart. When he was asked whether Cole was dumped because she and Abdul didn't get along, Cowell jumped at the opportunity to revisit his bickering past with his former Idol colleague.

"If it was a question of not getting along with Paula, then I wouldn't be on the show," he said.

Mariah Carey had been enthusiastic about X Factor but "selfishly got pregnant and didn't end up as a judge", Cowell said.