Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson will earn $15 million annually for his new car show on Amazon Prime. Clarkson, who was fired for punching a Top Gear producer, will be the highest paid TV host in the UK, The Mirror reports quoting industry sources.
The new show will have a $250 million budget for 36 episodes over three years, as much as $7 million per episode.
Clarkson’s show at the BBC had a $750,000 budget per episode that with time grew to $1.5 million.
He will front the show with James May and Richard Hammond with producer Andy Wilman, who will earn $11 million a year.
Amazon is trying to compete with Netflix which has four times as many subscribers because of hit TV series such as House of Cards.
BBC’s Top Gear won’t be shelved and will return in spring with Chris Evans as the new host.