Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell (/ˈkaʊəl/; born 7 October 1959) is an English television personality, entrepreneur, and record executive. He has judged on the British television talent competition shows Pop Idol (2001–2003), The X Factor UK (2004–2010, 2014–2018) and Britain's Got Talent (2007–present), and the American television talent competition shows American Idol (2002–2010), The X Factor US (2011–2013) and America's Got Talent (2016–present). Cowell founded the British entertainment company Syco in 2005, as well as its now-defunct predecessor, Syco Music (also known as S Records) in 2002.
This article is about the music executive and television presenter. For the conservationist and author, see Simon Cowell (conservationist).
Simon Cowell
7 October 1959
- Television personality
- entrepreneur
- record executive
1980–present
Lauren Silverman
(2013–present; engaged)
1
Nicholas Cowell (brother)
Tony Cowell (half-brother)
After some success in the 1980s and 1990s as a record producer, talent agent and consultant in the UK music industry, Cowell came to public prominence in 2001 as a judge on Pop Idol, a talent television show which he and its creator Simon Fuller successfully pitched to ITV Controller of Entertainment Claudia Rosencrantz. He subsequently created The X Factor in 2004 and Got Talent in 2006, which have become successful television franchises sold around the world.
Cowell often makes blunt and controversial comments as a television music and talent show judge, including insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities. He combines activities in both the television and music industries. Cowell has produced and promoted successful singles and albums for various recording acts whom he has signed to his record label Syco Music, including Little Mix, James Arthur, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, Olly Murs, Noah Cyrus, Fleur East, Ella Henderson, and Susan Boyle. He has also signed successful boy bands such as Westlife, One Direction, PrettyMuch, and CNCO.
In 2004 and 2010, Time named Cowell one of the 100 most influential people in the world.[1][2] In 2008, The Daily Telegraph ranked him sixth in their list of the "100 most powerful people in British culture".[3] The same year, he received the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards.[4] At the 2010 British Academy Television Awards, Cowell received the BAFTA Special Award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and for his development of new talent".[5] In 2018, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category.[6]
Early life
Simon Phillip Cowell was born on 7 October 1959[7][8] in Lambeth, London, and raised in Elstree, Hertfordshire. His mother, Julie Brett (née Josie Dalglish, 1925–2015),[9] was a ballet dancer and socialite, and his father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell (1918–1999), was an estate agent, property developer, and music industry executive.[10] Cowell's father was from a mostly Jewish family (his own mother was born in Poland),[11] though he did not discuss his ancestry with his children. Cowell's mother was from a Christian background.[11][12] He has a younger brother, Nicholas Cowell; three half brothers, John, Tony, and Michael Cowell; and a half sister, June Cowell.[13]
Cowell attended Radlett Preparatory School, Licensed Victuallers' School in Ascot for one year,[14] and the private Dover College, as did his brother, but left after taking GCE O levels. He passed English Language and Literature and then attended Windsor Technical College, where he gained another GCE in Sociology.[15] Cowell took a few menial jobs—including, according to his brother Tony,[16] working as a runner on Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror film The Shining—but did not get along well with colleagues and bosses, until his father, who was an executive at EMI Music Publishing, managed to get him a job in the mail room. However, after failing to get a promotion, he left to try out other jobs before returning to EMI.[17]
Career
Early career
In the early 1980s, Cowell left EMI to form E&S Music with his former boss at EMI but quit in 1983.[18] He then formed Fanfare Records with Iain Burton, initially selling exercise videos, and music from acts such as the Italian orchestra Rondò Veneziano.[19][20] He had his first hit song in 1986 with "So Macho" by Sinitta. Some of Cowell's early success came through Stock Aitken Waterman, who produced a number of hits in the 1980s.[21][22] However, in 1989 the company went under, with Pete Waterman forced to put a freeze on Fanfare's assets, and taking Cowell's Porsche as compensation for outstanding production and royalties payments.[23][24] Amid the company's implosion Cowell nearly became bankrupt.[25]
Personal life
Cowell dated English presenter Terri Seymour from 2002 to 2008.[117] Cowell was engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy from 2010 to 2011.[118] In 2013, Cowell allegedly began dating an American woman named Lauren Silverman. In July 2013, Silverman's husband and Cowell's friend, Andrew Silverman, filed for an at-fault divorce, citing adultery by his wife and naming Cowell as a co-respondent.[119] News of the divorce filing became public two weeks later, when it was widely reported that Silverman and Cowell were expecting a baby together.[120][121]
Cowell said, "There are a lot of things I will eventually clear up when the time is right, but I really have to be sensitive because there's a lot of people's feelings involved here." The Silvermans released separate statements expressing concern for the well-being of their son during the divorce process.[122] In August 2013, the Silvermans settled their divorce out of court, enabling Cowell to avoid being called as a witness in the divorce proceedings.[123] He subsequently confirmed that Silverman was pregnant with his child, and she gave birth to their son Eric on 14 February 2014.[124][125] The couple confirmed their engagement in January 2022.[126]
In 2010, Cowell came out in support for then Conservative Party leader David Cameron for Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, writing in The Sun: "I believe he is the Prime Minister Britain needs at this time. He has substance and the stomach to navigate us through difficult times."[127][128] In 2013, Cowell contravened his previous statement about David Cameron. According to the interview, while he has supported candidates, he has never voted in an election.[129] Cowell was in favour of the UK remaining in the EU in the 2016 EU referendum.[130]
In 2019, Cowell became a vegan after doctors advised him to change his diet for health reasons.[131] He was also named one of the wealthiest people in the UK by the Sunday Times Rich List, Cowell was worth £385 million in 2019.[132]
In 2020, Cowell announced he would be writing a seven-book series titled Wishfits with his son. The series is scheduled to launch in 2023.[133] On 8 August 2020, Cowell broke his back after he fell off his new electric motorcycle[134] which many press sources confused with an electric bike. The incident occurred while he was testing it at his home in Malibu, California. Cowell was taken to the hospital, where he underwent back surgery overnight.[135] After the accident, he began eating animal-based food again in order to "rebuild his strength".[136]
Awards and recognition
In 2004 and 2010, Time magazine named Cowell one of the 100 most influential people in the world.[1][2] In 2008 he received the Special Recognition Award (presented to him by Andrew Lloyd Webber) at the National Television Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall.[4] New Statesman listed Cowell at number 41 in a list of "50 People who Matter [in] 2010".[137] TV Guide named him at number 10 in their 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All Time.[138]
In 2012, Cowell was featured in the BBC Radio 4 series The New Elizabethans to mark the diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A panel of seven academics, journalists and historians named Cowell among the group of people in the UK "whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and given the age its character".[139] Cowell was announced to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 22 August 2018, in the Television category.[140]