So famous has Cowell become that he was once offered his own talk show on American television.
“I just said I literally couldn’t do this.
I just couldn’t talk to people all day long.
I’m not very good at talking.”
He rebelled during his posh and privileged childhood
Simon Cowell was born in 1959.
Asked about that behavior during an interview withGQ, Simon stood by his poor sportsmanship.
Just tip the board up."
That rebellious nature came into play when he was sent to Dover College, a prestigious boarding school.
Simon, however, didn’t feel it was a good fit, and at age 16 dropped out.
The company created several hits, but Cowell eventually decided he needed to leave.
In 1985, he entered a partnership that launched an independent label, Fanfare Records.
“I wanted everything to happen overnight,” he admitted.
Cowell also experienced success in legitimate pop music, signing such acts as Five, Westlife, and Sonia.
Neither, however, was interested but Cowell was relentless.
Cowell then contacted Robson’s mother, badgering her to convince him to sign on.
They did, and that record wound up going to No.
1, staying there for seven weeks.
Most were not interested.
“I never expected it funny enough to be on American TV,” Cowell said.
Returning to England, they then shopped the project around.
ITV expressed interest, and “Pop Idol” made its debut in December.
Meanwhile, it was estimated that 8.7 million people voted via telephone.
That runaway success was not lost on the U.S. networks that turned down the show.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
“It might be fun.”
A judging panel was assembled, including ’80s pop star Paul Abdul and record producer Randy Jackson.
Producers also wanted Cowell, but he was initially reticent.
“I thought … ‘I’ve done it once in England.
Let somebody else do it,'” Cowell said on “Larry King Live.”
“And then I was eventually talked into it.”
American viewers, in fact, had never quite seen anyone like “Mr. Back in his native England, Simon Cowell announced plans to launch a new TV singing competition.
Cowell produced a pilot, in which he and Piers Morgan judged.
Meanwhile, the format has been utilized in nations all over the world, ranging from Albania to Vietnam.
In season two, Cowell shook things up by firing host Steve Jones and ousting judges Abdul and Scherzinger.
He brought in singers Demi Lovato and Britney Spears; Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez were tapped to host.
Interestingly, “The X Factor” may be poised for a comeback.
In 2004, Simon met Lauren Silverman, wife of his close friend, real estate developer Andrew Silverman.
In 2014, Simon and Lauren welcomed a son, Eric Philip Cowell.
Unsurprisingly,parenthood changed Simon Cowell.
“They are both super happy,” a source toldPeopleof the now-engaged couple.
I can’t hold my head up about it.”
When the 11th season premiered, Cowell joined existing judges Mel B, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum.
And for about 10 seconds, I felt nervous.
And I never looked back."
It didn’t go well.
Cowell was hospitalized, and underwent emergency surgery on his back, which was far from minor.
After surviving theaccident that nearly paralyzed him, Cowellhad to take a break from work.
“America’s Got Talent” brought in a fill-in judge for Cowell.
The reality TV veteran addressed his injury during an interview withPeopleahead of his return for the 2021 season.
“I mean it wasn’t great for three-four weeks but after that you get through it.”
“I had to do so much exercise now,” he added.
“I actually feel better than I did before the accident.”
Cowell has also been successful at finding stars on his “Got Talent” shows.
He’s also earned numerous accolades celebrating that mammoth success.
Also in 2010, Cowell was presented with the BAFTA Special Award at the British Academy Television Awards.
In 2018, he received his own star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.
“Why did this take so long?”
he joked at the ceremony, as reported byVariety.
“If anyone says fame is a bad thing, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
It’s the best thing in the world.”
Not one penny of that fortune, by the way, will be inherited by his son.
“I’m going to leave my money to somebody.
A charity, probably kids and dogs,” he once said in an interview with theMirror.
“I don’t believe in passing on from one generation to another.”
This is definitely a case where less would have been more."
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly) cheekily addressed the rumors.
Simon has a new face?"
Interviewed by theMirrorabout the hosts’ jab, Cowell laughed it off.
“I think it’s hysterical,” he said.
“I mean, it just makes me laugh.
I haven’t had a facelift or anything.
I’ve had a bit of Botox or whatever, but nothing drastic.
So when I hear about this stuff, honestly it does make me laugh.”
That wasn’t the first time that Cowell had commented about his face.
“There was a stage where I might have gone a bit too far,” he confessed.
There is no filler in my face at all now.
