The Kardashians threatened to quit E!

The Kardashians threatened to quit E! before landing a $100 million deal.

The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' stars recently signed a new four-year contract with the channel for the eye-watering sum but it's now been reported they threatened to leave the network before securing the deal.

Claiming the Kardashian's matriarch Kris Jenner was lead negotiator for her family, a source shared: "This has been in the works for almost a year. Kris is a fierce negotiator ... She was playing major hardball and threatening to leave."

The 59-year-old star and her daughters - Kim Kardashian West, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner - have been starring in the E! show since 2007 and network bosses were keen to keep them bringing in viewers.

The source added to the New York Post newspaper's PageSix: "E! needs them."

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Kim - who has 20-month-old daughter North with husband Kanye West - last night (26.02.15) took to her Instagram account to post a racy picture of herself wearing skimpy lingerie to celebrate hitting 27 million followers on the social media site.

She wrote: "27 mil!! Thank you so much!!!!! I love you all!! (sic)."