Simon Cowell made a fortune on American Idol – meet his only child

Simon Cowell rose from a record company assistant to a global entertainment mogul. After leaving school, he began working at EMI, scouting new talent. Early career setbacks forced him to move back home, but he saw it as a “relief,” recalling, “I lost everything—my house, my Porsche… but I was actually quite happy.”

His breakthrough came with Pop Idol in 2001, followed by American Idol, where his sharp critiques, like “I don’t mean to be rude but…,” made him famous. This success led to The X Factor and Got Talent franchises, securing his fortune.

With a net worth of $600 million and earnings of $50 million in 2020, Cowell enjoys immense financial success. Despite his wealth, he gives generously, donating $1.5 million for COVID-19 relief. Reflecting on his appearance, he admitted, “I probably went a little overboard with Botox a few years ago.”

A severe bike accident in 2020 nearly left him paralyzed. “I knew I’d broken my back the moment I hit the ground,” he recalled. His son Eric, calling him “Ironman,” helped lift his spirits. Becoming a father transformed Cowell’s outlook: “He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” Rather than leaving his fortune to his son, he plans to donate it to charity.