By Breaking Celebrity News Staff

Did Simon Cowell bet $15 million on a losing hand?

The music mastermind is reportedly growing increasingly concerned with the attitude and behavior of Britney Spears, his prize acquisition for The X Factor.

A source tells Mirror UK that Cowell, who’s missed some of the auditions due to illness, has been checking in on Britney with show officials everyday after a number of incidents have revealed the 30-year-old entertainer might be wilting in the spotlight of her high-profile gig.

During recent tapings in Kansas City, Britney abruptly left the stage -- it's not the first time this has occurred -- leaving the crowd chanting, “Where’s Britney?”

The source told Mirror UK: "It’s embarrassing to have an empty seat on the panel in filming sessions, as the footage is almost totally wasted. If a great singer appears, and producers want to use the audition, you have to tell viewers why Britney wasn’t there.