Simon Cowell

Guide Note

Simon Cowell gained international fame as the host of the Idol series of TV reality television singing competition shows, beginning with Pop Idol in the United Kingdom and then American Idol in the United States. Cowell is both loved and hated by the public for his harsh criticism and dry sense of humor.

After dropping out of Dover College and St. Columba's College, Cowell's father Eric Philip Cowell got his son a job in the mail room of EMI Records. He worked his way to becoming a music publisher. He then went to Fanfare Records Limited for eight years, working with dance groups like Hot Gossip and Sinitta. After the Fanfare's financial crisis and shut down, Cowell went to work for BMG Records where he signed mainstream acts and successful novelty albums for the Teletubbies and the Power Rangers.

Cowell created Pop Idol in 1998, and the reality based singing television show first aired in the United Kingdom in October 5, 2001. He brought his plan for American Idol to American networks, but was turned down by almost every major network. His last meeting was set with FOX networks, and after initial hesitation, they signed for one season of the show and it quickly proved to be the right decision, as the ratings broke records. Due to Idols success, Cowell has a guaranteed salary of $40 million per season until the year 2011 working as a judge on the hit show. His fellow judges include record producer and bassist Randy Jackson and 1980s pop music star Paula Abdul.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Simon Philip Cowell
2. Born: October 7, 1959
3. Birthplace: Brighton, England
4. Grew up in Elstree, England
5. Dropped out of school at age 15
6. Started in the mail room at EMI Records

Simon-isms

1. "If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning."
2. "Why are you having a normal conversation with him? This is a dairy farmer dressed as a woman."
3. "Oh shut up Paula"
4. "Paula must have been starved for entertainment as a child."
5. "I haven't done anything particularly harsh. Harshness to me is giving somebody false hopes and not following through. That's harsh. Telling some guy or some girl who've got zero talent that they have zero talent actually is a kindness."
6. "Women say hello and then put their hands down my trousers. I thought it was my hand they were supposed to shake."