Simon Cowell went from being a regular worker at a music company to becoming one of the biggest names in the entertainment world. The British TV star and producer built a huge career and became known as a judge on popular talent shows. His honest—and sometimes harsh—comments made him stand out and gained him a lot of fans.
That may be one reason why he’s made so much money over the years. Simon has earned millions from shows like American Idol, and new reports show just how much he made per season.
Simon started working in music after he dropped out of school. His dad helped him get a job as an assistant at a record label called EMI. There, he looked for new singers and helped them grow. Later, he started two music labels of his own, but they didn’t work out. He had to move back in with his parents, which might have upset some people—but Simon saw it differently.
“I lost everything—my house, my car, all the things I thought mattered,” he said. “But I had good meals at home every night. I was actually pretty happy.”
After starting over, Simon created a new company called S Records. He signed boybands like 5ive and Westlife, and in 1995, he signed an artist named Jerome, who sang a new version of Unchained Melody. It became a huge hit. Still, it was TV talent shows that truly made Simon famous.
“My talent is creating things that people enjoy,” Simon said. “I only care about making money—for myself and the people I work with. That’s my goal.”
In 2001, he teamed up with Simon Fuller, the manager of the Spice Girls, to create Pop Idol. Simon appeared as a judge on the show, and it quickly became a big hit. From that moment on, Simon Cowell became a household name.
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell became known for his tight T-shirts and his famous line, “I don’t mean to be rude, but…” That phrase became his trademark. Just one year later, the show (Pop Idol) was picked up by the American TV network Fox and renamed American Idol. Simon quickly became a star in the U.S.
The first season finale—won by Kelly Clarkson—was watched by over 26 million people. Simon saw how big the show was becoming and realized there was a lot of money to be made. He started releasing American Idol-themed music, while Simon Fuller stayed in charge of the show and managed the winners.
In just a few years, Simon Cowell became a multi-millionaire. Talent shows like X Factor and America’s Got Talent made him—and many others—very rich. In 2006, Simon signed a new deal that brought in even more money. Simon stayed on as a judge on American Idol for five more years, and it paid off well.
When American Idol first aired, Simon Cowell was one of the three original judges, along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. What started as a small TV idea turned into one of the biggest shows ever, launching the careers of many famous singers and changing lives along the way.
Simon Cowell’s Net Worth and Salary from ‘The X Factor’
Two of the most famous winners from Simon Cowell’s shows are Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. And in the future, many more stars will come from these talent contests. Simon was a judge on American Idol for nine seasons. He also created The X Factor in both the US and UK and started production companies called Syco TV, Syco Film, and Syco Music.
Simon was a judge on The X Factor in both countries. At the same time, he was also a judge and executive producer on America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent.
Even though he judged many shows, one thing stayed the same: his honest and sometimes rude style. But he also showed his softer side when he heard great performances. He’s been known to laugh at funny auditions—and he’s also made a lot of money from these shows.
According to CNN, Simon made $36 million in 2008 alone. CelebrityNetWorth.com says he earned $45 million in 2017, and $41 million in 2018. In 2020, he made over $50 million.
Today, Simon Cowell’s total net worth is about $600 million. He gives part of his money every year to charities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated $1.5 million to help Feeding America and Feeding Britain.
The Truth About Simon Cowell and Botox
With all his money, Simon Cowell can do almost anything he wants. He bought a big house in Malibu, near Los Angeles, California, and has spent a lot of time changing how he looks.
For example, Simon has had several Botox shots and other treatments on his face over the years. According to Hello Magazine, he was one of the first male TV stars to openly say he had Botox. In 2018, he told The Sun that he had a non-surgical facelift using special threads.
“There are many options now,” Simon said. “You don’t have to just fill your face with Botox and other stuff. It hurts a lot, but it helps fix sun damage and cleans out the skin.” He added, “For me, having clean skin is very important. If your skin is clean, you look better. But you have to be careful with these treatments.”
Simon also said that using Botox helped him stay on TV for 10 more years. But he admits he might have had too much at one point.
“Hopefully, I look better now—I probably had too much Botox a couple years ago because everyone on TV does it,” he said. “Now I get facials but nothing too fancy. I have a woman who comes to my house and gives me face massages—it’s very relaxing. I even tried a sheep placenta facial once, which was pretty unusual.”
Lately, while still working hard with his businesses, Simon has become a family man too.
In 2013, he and his girlfriend, Lauren Silverman, announced they were going to have their first child. On Valentine’s Day in 2014, their son Eric was born.
“Meeting Lauren and becoming a dad was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Simon, who was 54 at the time, said.
Simon Cowell – hospital visit
Simon Cowell and his family are enjoying life, but Simon has faced some health problems. In October 2017, he fainted and fell down the stairs. He was taken to the hospital. His team called it “a scary morning.” Doctors said the fall happened because his blood pressure was very low.
After that, a doctor told Simon he had to change his diet. He had to stop eating red meat, wheat, dairy, gluten, and sugar.
Simon joked in an interview, “I asked, ‘What about alcohol? That’s all I care about.’ The doctor said, ‘Maybe not as much as before.’”
Simon’s health has improved a lot in the last few years. In just one year, he lost 56 pounds. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, he kept up his healthy habits and didn’t gain the weight back.
“I think I lost 60 pounds since I started the diet a year ago. I cook more and exercise,” he told Extra, according to Hello magazine. “Funny enough, I’m doing more exercise now, even during lockdown.”
In 2020, Simon had another serious accident. He fell off his electric bike at his home in Malibu. He was rushed to the hospital and had surgery to fix a broken back.
“Walking wouldn’t have been possible for me.”
After his six-hour surgery, which included putting in a metal rod, Simon Cowell was “doing” okay. Things could have been much worse. Because of the surgery, he had to miss the start of the last season of America’s Got Talent live shows.
Simon tweeted a funny warning to fans: “If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time.” He also thanked everyone for their kind messages. Even though his tweet sounded calm, things were not as good as they seemed. In an interview with ExtraTV, Simon said he was shocked when he saw his X-ray.
“I knew I broke my back the moment I hit the ground. It was sudden and very painful,” he said. “It could have been much worse. When I saw the X-ray, I realized I almost shattered my spine. I literally wouldn’t have been able to walk.”
Doctors told him to stay still and rest. But Simon did the opposite. According to People magazine, he was walking around just two days after surgery.
“I thought, ‘I have to get back inside because I can’t just lie there.’ So I made myself get carried to my bedroom, which is close to the front door. While lying there, I almost passed out. It was a strange feeling,” he said.
Simon Cowell son
Simon Cowell has made a huge fortune by building his career. But it seems he doesn’t want to leave his money to his child. He believes it’s important for kids to learn the value of money on their own. Having rich parents might make life easier, but Simon thinks his child should make their own success.
Over the years, many celebrities have said they won’t give their money to their children. Simon Cowell is one of them. He said in an interview with The Mirror:
“I’m going to leave my money to someone—probably a charity for kids and dogs. I don’t believe in passing money from one generation to the next.”
He also said:
“Your legacy should be that you gave people chances to do well, spent time with them, and shared what you know.”
Simon has one child, a 10-year-old boy named Eric. When Simon met Eric’s mother, Lauren Silverman, she was married to Simon’s close friend, Andrew Silverman. In 2013, it was announced that Simon and Lauren were expecting their first child together. Lauren was still married to Andrew, but they divorced by the end of that year.
On Valentine’s Day in 2014, Simon Cowell’s son Eric was born. While Simon was very happy to become a dad, he found it difficult at first. He had never planned to be a father and wasn’t proud of how it all started.
“It’s not something I’m proud of. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. It just happened,” he said.
But now, Simon couldn’t be happier. He and Eric have a lot in common. Simon says they both enjoy Scooby-Doo, Disney movies, and laughing at their dogs.
“He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I love him so much,” Simon said.
Eric is named after Simon’s father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell, who passed away in 1999. Recently, Simon said that Eric helped him stop using fillers and injections on his face. It had gotten to the point where Eric was scared of how Simon looked.
“There was a time when I probably went too far,” Simon told The Sun. “I saw an old photo of myself and didn’t even recognize me. Eric saw it and couldn’t stop laughing. That’s when I knew I had to stop. Now, there’s no filler in my face at all—zero.”
Simon Cowell has built a huge career in showbiz. But more than that, he’s found real happiness—with the love of his life and their amazing son. After facing serious health challenges, he’s working hard to get better. Fans everywhere are hoping to see him back on TV as a judge very soon!
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