New 'X Factor' Judge: Britney Spears Signs a $15 Million Deal

Yes, That Means She's Trumped Christina's $10 Million Payday for The Voice

The rest of us sit around judging the talent (or sometimes lack thereof) on talent shows like American Idol, The Voice and X Factor from the comfort of home; Britney Spears, however, is putting her own music cred to good use, as she'll cash a $15 million check to judge the contestants on the upcoming second season of X Factor.

Spears had reportedly turned down a $10 million offer earlier this year to appear alongside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the judges table on X Factor, but E! Online reports that Britney has agreed to -- and is "thisclose" to signing -- a deal to do the job for $15 million.

Read: Madonna Wants to Kiss Britney Spears Again?

"Both camps were back and forth on the money, but now they have finally come to (an) agreement on the fee," an insider tells E! Online. "That was the big sticking point and now, thankfully, it's been sorted. All they need to do now is work out the smaller points. The fact (that) the money is now set means that there is nothing stopping this from becoming a reality."

Another source tells E! Online that Spears' agent/fiancée, Jason Trawick, will also serve as a producer on the new season of X Factor, as part of his pop diva's overall deal.

Trawick is petitioning to become co-conservator of Spears' estate (alongside her father, Jamie), and, as a producer, would be on the set with his wife-to-be all the time. "He is her rock and will help guide her through the process. He is the person she trusts the most," E! Online's source says.

Reps for Fox, Spears and X Factor would not confirm the hiring is almost a done deal, but a $15 million payday would make Spears the highest-paid reality TV judge, reports E! Online, with Jennifer Lopez and her $12 million American Idol payday in second place.

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"She gets on very well with Simon," E!'s source says. "He has worked hard at persuading her to start this new chapter in her career. She is an icon, and the perfect example of what having the X Factor means. She's really looking forward to the project and being able to connect with her fans."

Spears is expected to join the show for its audition rounds in May, while season two will premiere on Fox in September.

Meanwhile, Cowell is reportedly still planning to sign a fourth judge, as well as a pair of new hosts, for X Factor, after Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones were fired after the show's debut season.