Simon Cowell is one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry. He's responsible for some of your favorite TV shows, like American Idol, and The X Factor, as well as America's Got Talent. As if that wasn't enough, he's also responsible for some of the world's most famous artists, specifically, One Direction.
Simon has an eye for talent, and he has had it since he began working in the music industry. He's a very powerful man and he knows it. There's a lot more to Simon than fans may realize, and there's a lot one might not know about him. Here are 10 little known facts about Simon Cowell.
10 His First Job Was In A Mail Room
Everyone has to start somewhere, and that includes none other than Simon Cowell. After school, Simon had a few odd jobs here and there, but none of said jobs held his interest. Looking for another opportunity, Simon landed a job as a runner on set for the movie The Shining. Seems pretty cool, right? Not for Simon. He hated the job, and didn’t get along with his co-workers.
Finally, with the help of his dad, he got a job as a mailroom clerk at EMI Music Publishing. Simon had a huge interest in music, so he stayed, in hopes of moving up in the company.
9 He Formed His Own Music Label But It Failed
After gaining some experience and making connections at EMI, Simon eventually left the company at the beginning of the 1980s. Along with the help of his boss at EMI, Ellis Rich, Simon was able to form E&S Music. Simon worked there for a few years, but he eventually left the company to form another label in 1985, Fanfare Records.
The company experienced success rather quickly, however, it was very short-lived, as the company folded as quickly as it started. In 1989, with his company gone, Simon was forced to move back in with his parents.
8 He Became A Talent Scout
Luckily for Simon, with his knowledge and experience in the music industry, he was able to turn things around. He was brought on as a consultant with BMG Records, where he would be a talent scout.
Simon had an eye for talent and signed a number of successful clients to the company, ones that included 70 top-charting singles, and over 150 million records sold. With all of his success and his ability to spot talent in people, Simon quickly moved up the corporate ladder.
7 He Developed Pop Idol
In 2000, there was a popular show that aired in the UK called Popstars. The premise of the show was a bunch of musical acts that competed against one another.
Simon and producer Simon Fuller decided to take the premise and success of that show and take it a step further, by allowing the viewers to vote for their favorite acts to move on. They decided to call it Pop Idol, and it was an instant hit. Seeing the success of the show in the UK, the show was then imported into America, and American Idol was born.
6 He Had An Affair With His Best Friend's Wife
Simon has a bit of a reputation for being a cheater and not sticking with relationships. Over the years, he’s been with a number of women, getting engaged a few times, but never actually going through with a wedding, earning his playboy reputation.
In 2013, Simon did the unthinkable and started secretly seeing the wife of one of his closest friends. Lauren Silverman cheated on her husband multiple times with Simon, until they were eventually caught, and the couple got a divorce, citing adultery.
5 And Had A Baby With Her
As if being caught cheating with your friend’s wife wasn’t enough, there were also many rumors swirling around the tabloids that Simon got Lauren pregnant during the whole divorce debacle.
The rumors turned out to be true, and the two welcomed their son, Eric, in 2014. Becoming a father changed Simon, as he’s been known to be rude and cold to many contestants on shows. However, Simon often posts adorable snaps of Eric and you can definitely tell how much he loves his son.
4 He Created SYCOtv
We all know by now that Simon has a lot of love for everything music, television, and entertainment. As a result, he decided to put his love and his world together, and in 2002 started his own company, SYCOtv. This company is responsible for creating some of your favorite TV shows, such as The X Factor, America's Got Talent, and American Inventor.
Simon really changed the game when it comes to entertainment and competition shows. He knows how to keep an audience entertained, and make stars out of the contestants.
3 He's Changed Drastically Since He Went Vegan
If you've seen Simon on television recently, you might notice that he has been looking a little different. He's a lot thinner, slimmer, and buffer. Overall, he looks a lot more healthy than he used to look. What's his secret? He went vegan. He cut out meat, dairy, wheat, and sugar.
In 2017, he fell due to an extreme drop in blood sugar, which caused him to want to make the lifestyle change. Since the change to his diet, he's lost about 20 pounds and feels a heck of a lot better than he used to.
2 He's Obsessed With His Dogs
When he's on TV, Simon is known to have a mean and brutally honest personality. When he was on American Idol, he was never afraid to speak his mind, and told you exactly like it is. Simon does have a softer side, though. Not only does he love his son, but he loves his dogs just as much.
Simon has four dogs and he's obsessed with them! His most recent pup is a rescue from Barbados, named Daisy. He also has two Yorkshire terriers, Squiddly and Diddly. He also adopted his mom's dog, Freddie, after she passed away.
1 He Swears He'll Never Get Married
Simon is the ultimate ladies man, always has been and always will be. Over the years he's been linked to many women, such as Sinitta and Danni Minogue, and he dated Terri Seymour for about six years. He was also engaged but never followed through with the wedding.
Although he's happy with his partner Lauren right now and has a son with her, he's made no move to marry her. Over the years, he's admitted that he'll never get married, but fans aren't sure if he'll continue to stick to this, or eventually break down. Guess everyone will have to wait and see!
