Simon Cowell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Simon Cowell
Cowell in 2011
Born	(1959-10-07) 7 October 1959 (age 65) London, England
Occupation	Television personality entrepreneur record executive
Years active	1980–present
Organization	Syco Entertainment
Label(s)	Syco Music
Television	Pop Idol The X Factor UK Britain's Got Talent American Idol The X Factor US America's Got Talent
Partner(s)	Lauren Silverman (2013–present; engaged)
Children	1
Relatives	Nicholas Cowell (brother) Tony Cowell (half-brother)

Simon Phillip Cowell (born 7 October 1959) is a famous English television personality, businessman, and music executive. He is well-known for being a judge on many popular TV talent shows. These include Pop Idol, The X Factor UK, and Britain's Got Talent in the UK. In the US, he judged American Idol, The X Factor US, and America's Got Talent.

Simon Cowell also started his own entertainment company called Syco in 2005. Before that, he founded Syco Music (also known as S Records) in 2002. He became famous in 2001 as a judge on Pop Idol, a show he helped create. Later, he created The X Factor in 2004 and Got Talent in 2006. These shows became huge hits all over the world.

Cowell is known for his honest and sometimes harsh comments as a judge. He often makes jokes about contestants' singing. He has helped many artists become famous through his record label, Syco Music. Some of these include Little Mix, James Arthur, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, Olly Murs, Susan Boyle, Westlife, and One Direction.

Time magazine named Simon Cowell one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 and 2010. He has received many awards for his work in entertainment and for helping new talent. In 2018, he even got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Simon Cowell's Early Life

Simon Phillip Cowell was born in Lambeth, London, on 7 October 1959. He grew up in Elstree, Hertfordshire. His mother, Julie Brett, was a ballet dancer. His father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell, worked in real estate and the music industry. Simon has a younger brother, Nicholas Cowell, and several half-siblings.

Simon went to Radlett Preparatory School and Dover College. He left school after taking his GCE O levels. He had a few small jobs, including working in the mail room at EMI Music Publishing, where his father worked. He didn't always get along with his bosses, but he eventually found his way in the music business.

Simon Cowell's Career Journey

Starting in Music

In the early 1980s, Simon Cowell started his own music company called Fanfare Records. He had his first big hit song in 1986 with "So Macho" by Sinitta. However, his company faced difficulties in 1989, and he almost went bankrupt.

Irish boy band Westlife had many hit songs, including "Flying Without Wings".

He then worked with BMG and created S Records. He started making fun, novelty records with acts like the puppets Zig and Zag and the Power Rangers. In 1995, he convinced two actors, Robson Green and Jerome Flynn, to record a song they sang on their TV show. Their song, "Unchained Melody", became a number one hit in the UK. It was the best-selling single of 1995! Their music made Simon his first million pounds. Later, he signed other successful groups like Five and Westlife.

The Idol TV Shows

In 2001, Simon Cowell became a judge on the first season of Pop Idol in the UK. He helped create this show with Simon Fuller. The show quickly became a huge success. The top two singers from the first season, Will Young and Gareth Gates, both had number one hits.

In 2002, he also became a judge on American Idol. Simon became known for his very direct and honest comments. He often started by saying, "I don't mean to be rude, but..." and then gave a blunt opinion. This style made him very famous.

In 2005, Simon started a new company called Syco. This company has three parts: Syco Music (for music), Syco TV (for TV shows), and Syco Film (for movies). One of his first big successes with Syco was the group Il Divo, who sang opera-style pop music.

Simon left American Idol in 2010. The show had been very popular for many years. He was replaced by Steven Tyler. Simon then focused on bringing The X Factor to America.

The X Factor Journey

Simon Cowell with Cheryl Cole as judges on The X Factor UK.

In 2004, Simon created The X Factor in the UK. He was a judge alongside Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. The show was an instant hit.

One Direction became a global sensation after being on The X Factor in the UK.

Many famous artists got their start on The X Factor. Leona Lewis, who won the third season, signed with Simon's label Syco and became a worldwide star. Later, the boyband One Direction also signed with Syco after finishing third on the show in 2010. They became one of the biggest groups in the world. In 2011, the girl group Little Mix won the UK show and also signed with Syco. They have sold millions of records globally.

Fifth Harmony became famous after appearing on the American X Factor.

Simon launched the American version of The X Factor in 2011. He was a judge on this show too. His act, Melanie Amaro, won the first season. In the second season, the group Fifth Harmony became very popular after being on the show. Simon returned to judge the UK X Factor in 2014. The American version ended after three seasons.

In 2020, it was announced that Simon would be a judge on The X Factor Israel. However, he later decided not to appear on the show.

The Got Talent Shows

The stage for Britain's Got Talent in 2019. Simon Cowell's 'X' is on the left.

After the success of Idol and X Factor, Simon and his company Syco created a new type of talent show called Got Talent. This show was open to all kinds of performers, not just singers. It included dancers, magicians, comedians, and more. Simon was inspired by older British talent shows like Opportunity Knocks.

Simon is an executive producer for America's Got Talent, which started in 2006. This show was very popular for NBC. Britain's Got Talent began in the UK in 2007. Simon was a judge on this show with Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.

A famous moment on Britain's Got Talent was when Susan Boyle performed in 2009. Her audition became a global sensation! In 2014, Got Talent was named the world's most successful reality TV format by Guinness World Records. It has spin-off shows in over 68 countries.

In 2015, Simon launched La Banda in the US. This show looked for male singers to form a Latino boy band. The winning group, CNCO, signed with Syco Music. In 2015, Simon also became a judge on America's Got Talent.

Other TV Projects

Simon Cowell has produced many other TV shows. In 2006, he co-produced American Inventor, where people competed to create the best new product idea. He also executive-produced Celebrity Duets, which featured Hollywood stars singing.

In 2011, Simon created his first game show for ITV called Red or Black?. He also produced cooking shows and other game shows. In 2018, he created The Greatest Dancer for the BBC, where dancers competed for a prize. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he judged a virtual version of Canada's Got Talent called Canadian Family's Got Talent.

Simon Cowell in the Media

Simon Cowell at the National Television Awards in London in 2006.

Simon Cowell has been involved in charity work for many years. He supports Together for Short Lives, a UK charity for children with serious health conditions. He also donated money to Manchester Dogs' Home after a fire. In 2010, he helped produce the charity song "Everybody Hurts" to help victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

In 2003, Simon released his autobiography called I Don't Mean to be Rude, but.... It shared stories from his childhood, his music career, and his experiences on Pop Idol and American Idol.

Simon has appeared as himself in many TV shows and movies. He was a guest voice on The Simpsons and Family Guy. He also had a cameo in Scary Movie 3 and voiced himself in the Far Far Away Idol segment of Shrek 2.

He was once the fastest "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" on the BBC show Top Gear. He has also appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Saturday Night Live.

In 2017, Simon organized the recording of a charity single, "Bridge over Troubled Water", to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. Many famous singers helped, and the song reached number one in the UK.

Simon Cowell's Personal Life

Simon Cowell dated English presenter Terri Seymour from 2002 to 2008. He was engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy from 2010 to 2011. In 2013, it was reported that Simon was expecting a baby with Lauren Silverman. Their son, Eric, was born on 14 February 2014. Simon and Lauren confirmed their engagement in January 2022.

In 2019, Simon became a vegan for health reasons. He was named one of the wealthiest people in the UK, with a net worth of over £385 million in 2019.

In 2020, Simon announced he would write a seven-book series for children called Wishfits with his son. In August 2020, he broke his back after falling off an electric motorcycle. He had surgery and later started eating animal-based food again to help him recover.

Awards and Recognition

Time magazine recognized Simon Cowell as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 and 2010. In 2008, he received a Special Recognition Award for his contributions to television.

In 2012, Simon was featured in the BBC Radio 4 series The New Elizabethans. This series highlighted people in the UK who had a big impact during Queen Elizabeth II's reign. On 22 August 2018, Simon Cowell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.

Filmography

Television

Film

See also

In Spanish: Simon Cowell para niños