Simon Phillip Cowell (born 7 October 1959) is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and American Idol. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house Syco.
Dropped out of school at the age of 16.
Has 3 half-brothers, John, Michael and Tony Cowell, a half sister, former child actress June Cowell, a biological sister, Lindsay Elizabeth and a younger brother Nicholas Cowell.
He worked as a mail boy at EMI and eventually worked his way to become an A&R representative.
Says that the first time he gave a criticism was at age four when he looked at his mother’s white fuzzy pillbox hat and remarked “Mum, you look like a poodle” [Source: His book "I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..."]
During auditions for “The X Factor” (2004), he made a bet with auditionee Paul Holt that he would pay him £50,000 if he got a #1 single. Holt was quickly signed by a record label – and backed by “The X Factor” (2004) judge Sharon Osbourne – to release “50 Grand for Christmas” in December 2004, which only charted at #35 in the UK.
His former girlfriend is Terri Seymour. [2004]
His sister’s husband is the cousin of pop star Robbie Williams.
he has 2 nieces and a nephew, namely: Tanyette Chantel (born October 18, 1981), Melissa Lee (born July 10, 1984), and Joshua Aaron, (born April 15, 1986) all 3 of whom have appeared in the audience during various episodes of Pop Idol Season 1.
His best friend is his London neighbor ‘Jacqueline St Claire’.
During an auditioning, a female participant told Simon and the other judges that she quit her job at a hair salon so she can pursue her dreams on American Idol; when getting rejected, Simon had asked for the phone and called the owner of the participant workplace where the rejected contestant got her job back.
Made his screen debut in 1990, on the UK TV series ‘Sale of the Century’, his prize for winning – Kitchen Utensils.
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his U.S. earnings at $45 million for the year.
His father Eric Cowell was a record company executive with EMI. He died at home in 1999 of a massive heart attack on the very day that Simon got his first Number One with a then-unknown band called Westlife who his dad had predicted would become big.
Allergic to lambs’ wool. Buys expensive cashmere jumpers.
Ranked #6 in the 2008 Telegraph’s list “the 100 most powerful people in British culture”.
In 2007, he earned an estimated $72 million in income from his various projects. $45 million from “American Idol: The Search for a Superstar” (2002), $15 million from “Britain’s Got Talent” (2007) and “The X Factor” (2004), and $12 million from his record label.
He is good friends with Emma Noble.
The Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $196 million. [2009]
Merited a place in Time magazine’s – The 100 Most Influential People in the World (“Artists” category) – with a tribute provided by Nick Cannon. [May 10, 2010]
A TV commercial proposal was made to him by his agent who told him that he would be paid $1m for a day’s work (the good news). When Cowell asked about the bad news, he was informed that the commercial was for “Viagra”. Cowell reneged (interview: “Piers Morgan Tonight: Episode dated 5 April 2011″ (2011)). [2010]
