29. For the love of animals
Simon is a vegetarian and an animal activist. Simon has lent his celebrity to important animal care campaigns, taking time to remind people not to leave dogs in hot cars and speaking about the importance of spaying and neutering.
28. Ouch
He’s is the only American Idol judge without a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
27. An animated cameo
Simon makes an appearance in Shrek 2. He plays a judge on Far Far Away Idol, proving that every talent competition needs a Simon Cowell.
26. The classic Simon T-shirts
Simon loves wearing T-shirts, particularly the loose, ratty ones that he often sports. That doesn’t mean he’s above labels. He owns over 30 black Armani T-shirts.
25. The Godfather
He’s the godfather of pop artist Sinitta’s adopted children. Simon and Sinitta dated on and off for 20 years.
Chris Jackson, Getty Images
24. Get those vitamins
Each week, Cowell has an intravenous drip with B12, magnesium, vitamin C, and, he says, "something for your liver." out.
23. Big Bucks
Simon Cowell has earned $120 million from The X Factor and other shows.
Daniel Berehulak , Getty Images
22. Staying young
Simon says that he has used botox. “Hopefully I look better now – I probably did have a little too much Botox a couple of years ago, because everyone on TV has it.”
21. A break up
He dated Terri Seymour from 2002 until 2008. It’s believed that they broke up because Simon didn’t want to shack up.
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20. Thanks, daddy
Simon's dad was an executive at EMI Music Publishing and managed to convince someone to give Simon a job in the mail room.
s_bukley, Shutterstock
19. Going out on his own
After climbing the ladder at EMI, Simon and his boss Ellis Rich left to form E&S Music. Many jobs and partnerships later, Simon found himself so deep in debt in 1989 that he had to move back in with his parents.
18. First blood
Simon judged the first British Pop Idol contest in 2000. This is where he first displayed his meanie demeanour. He joined the American Idol panel in 2002.
17. A nod to Christina
Simon says that Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful is one of the best pop songs ever made.
16. The Shining
After school, Simon took a job as a runner on the set of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, but he didn’t get along with the bosses so he quit.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
15. Ever wonder where the critiques come from?
Simon claims that he often has “dark moods and miserable thoughts.”
Anthony Devlin, Getty Images
14. Not the best student…
It’s reported that naughty Simon attended 16 schools because of bad behaviour and eventually dropped out at age 16.
N Chadwick, Dover College, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
13. Writing chops
In 2003, Simon published an autobiography called I Don’t Mean to be Rude, but… What an apt, but predictable title! The book details his life in the music business and gives tips for being successful.
12. A scandal
Simon broke off his engagement to Mezhgan Hussainy in 2012. This came following pictures of Cowell emerged showing him and Lauren appearing to kiss while she was on holiday with her husband Andrew in August 2012.
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
11. Early critiques from a young Simon…
When Simon was 4, he told his mother that her fuzzy, white pillbox hat made her look like a poodle.
10. The Cowell family
Simon has two nieces and a nephew. All three appeared in the audience at some time during the first season of Pop Idol.
Steve Finn, Getty Images
9. The friendly neighbourhood Jacqueline
Paula isn’t his best friend. Simon’s best friend is London neighbor Jacqueline St. Claire.
Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
8. Teletubbies!
Simon is into kids’ shows. His early productions under S Records include Teletubbies and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
7. Well played, Simon
Simon is allergic to lamb’s wool. He says his secret is to buy expensive cashmere sweaters instead. "In fact, if I find a cashmere jumper I can wear without getting itchy, I don't just buy one, I buy five in five different colours."
6. Early wins
Simon got an early start on TV. Back in 1990, Simon appeared on the UK series Sale of the Century and won a set of kitchen utensils.
ITV, Sale of the Century (TV Series 1971–1997)
5. A few reality TV appearances
Simon turned down an offer of £1 million to be the face of Viagra in 2007. Simon said, “Sorry, but that has to be a [redacted] insult.”
Vince Bucci, Getty Images
4. Controversial love
Simon had an affair with his best friend’s wife. He began dating Lauren Silverman, wife of Andrew Silverman, in 2009. He added that he was “not proud of the circumstances,” but after learning she was pregnant, made a decision to move forward.
"This was not something I planned. But I remember going to the first scan with Lauren. I called him Tad because he looked like a tadpole. Something just kicked in. I felt unbelievably protective of both of them. I just absolutely wanted him. I just hadn't known that before."
He also has spoken about his relationship with Eric Cowell, his son with Lauren. "I adore my son. We make each other laugh. We play with the dogs. I've taught him to share, to say please and thank you. Whatever he has he offers it to me."
The couple is still together, and their son recently celebrated his second birthday.
Stuart C. Wilson, Getty Images
2. Sticking up for Honey G
For all the verbal smack downs Simon deals out, he can also be a voice of support. When The X-Factor contestant Honey G faced backlash and criticism for her unique rap style, Simon defended her. "For everyone that's been criticising you, you know what? Music can be fun - and you are fun." He went on to say that, “This is why I love the X Factor. Technically this shouldn't work, but it does... Behind the scenes, Honey G is one of the nicest contestants we've ever had on the show."
1. Criminal past!
When Simon Cowell was only twelve years old, he was arrested because he hijacked a bus with a pea gun. “It's a gun that fires peas and they go about six feet. Myself and a friend were going on a bus and we thought it would be a joke to put the gun to the driver's head and say take us to where we were going. He believed us and I remember sitting on the bus thinking, 'God, this guy's really playing along with this well,' because he didn't stop for 20 miles. We got to the other end and there were police cars waiting for us and they threw us in jail."
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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