After almost six years, Angela de Jong reveals how much money John de Mol offered her to switch to Talpa. “There was a lot of money in return, much more than I earn now.”
John de Mol has a clever tactic when it comes to silencing critics: he simply offers them a contract. The bosses of the three largest tabloids – Privé, Story and Weekend – changed tack; who opted for a lucrative job at Shownieuws. But AD opinion devil Angela de Jong? He refused.
Talk to John
It has been almost six years since John saw his attempt fail. Angela now: “John de Mol certainly called, yes. He actually approached me once, a few years ago, to come and meet me at his office. That was just in the time of the six tons and a Tesla of Mattie and Wietze.”
She continues in the podcast Lightless Lounge: “So I was sitting in that office and I thought: when are those six tons and a Tesla coming, guys, come on! That turned out to be a kind of prelude, because afterwards I was indeed called if I wanted to come and they had all kinds of plans for programs and I was allowed to put together my own editorial team.”
Eight tons
Everything was possible, according to Angela. “A late-night program, presenting, you name it. There was a lot of money in return, much more than I will ever earn at AD. In total, it involved a three-year contract, which amounted to just over €800,000. 2.5, 2.75, 3 more.”
Angela said no. “It is not my dream to work in television, but at AD. I also found it impossible to combine it with my life at home. I thought, how the hell are we supposed to do all this? I also have a lot of difficulty surrendering my soul to someone like John de Mol. I attach great importance to my independence.”
Lots of money
On the other hand: eight tons is not a lot of money. “I thought: okay, I can now earn a lot of money in the short term with something that I actually don’t want to do and that I don’t think I’m very good at at all. And after that? I have lost all my credibility. And what should I do afterwards? Then I will lose my column.”
She concludes: “And what I do now and the place I have now… I am very happy with what I do and what I have achieved and that I can contribute to the newspaper that has been very important to me from an early age. ”
‘It was done’
Did John ever sound the alarm again after that attempt? Or did it stop there? “Then it was done in one.”
Angela has been one of John’s biggest critics for years. She currently thinks it is a shame that media billionaire Peter Gillis is keeping the channel.