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Dropped out of school at 16

Has 3 half-brothers, John, Michael and Tony, a half sister, June, a biological sister, Lindsay Elizabeth and a younger brother Nicholas Cowell.

He worked as a mail boy at EMI and eventually worked his way to become an A&R representative.

Says that the first time he gave a criticism was at age four when he looked at his mother's white fuzzy pillbox hat and remarked "Mum, you look like a poodle" [Source: His book "I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..."]

During auditions for 'The X Factor', he made a bet with auditionee Paul Holt that he would pay him £50,000 if he got a #1 single. Holt was quickly signed by a record label - and backed by X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne - to release "50 Grand for Christmas" in December 2004, which only charted at #35 in the UK.

His girlfriend is Terri Seymour. [2004]

His sister's husband is the cousin of pop star Robbie Williams.

he has 2 nieces and a nephew, namely: Tanyette Chantel (born October 18, 1981), Melissa Lee (born July 10, 1984), and Joshua Aaron, (born April 15, 1986) all 3 of whom have appeared in the audience during various episodes of Pop Idol Season 1.

His best friend is his London neighbor Jackie St Claire.

During an auditioning, a female participant told Simon and the other judges that she quit her job at a hair salon so she can pursue her dreams on American Idol; when getting rejected, Simon had asked for the phone and called the owner of the participant workplace where the rejected contestant got her job back.

Made his screen debut in 1990, on the UK TV series 'Sale of the Century', his prize for winning - Kitchen Utensils.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his U.S. earnings at $45 million for the year.

His father Eric Cowell was a record company executive with EMI. He died at home in 1999 of a massive heart attack on the very day that Simon got his first Number One with a then-unknown band called Westlife who his dad had predicted would become big.

Allergic to lambs' wool. Buys expensive cashmere jumpers.

Ranked #6 in the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture".

In 2007, he earned an estimated $72 million in income from his various projects. $45 million from American Idol, $15 million from Britain's Got Talent and X Factor, and $12 million from his record label.

Emmy Awards

2007 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) Shared with: Nigel Lythgoe (executive producer) Ken Warwick (executive producer) Cécile Frot-Coutaz (executive producer) Simon Fuller (executive producer) Richard Curtis (executive producer) Charles Boyd (supervising producer) James Breen (supervising producer) Patrick Lynn (senior producer) Megan Michaels (producer) Ryan Seacrest (host) Randy Jackson (judge) Paula Abdul (judge)

2006 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) Shared with: Simon Fuller (executive producer) Nigel Lythgoe (executive producer) Ken Warwick (executive producer) Cécile Frot-Coutaz (executive producer) Charles Boyd (supervising producer) James Breen (senior producer) Simon Lythgoe (producer) Megan Michaels (producer) Ryan Seacrest (host) Paula Abdul (judge) Randy Jackson (judge)

2005 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) Shared with: Simon Fuller (executive producer) Nigel Lythgoe (executive producer) Cécile Frot-Coutaz (executive producer) Ken Warwick (executive producer) Charles Boyd (supervising producer) James Breen (senior producer) Simon Lythgoe (producer) Megan Michaels (producer) Ryan Seacrest (host) Paula Abdul (judge) Randy Jackson (judge)

2004 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Reality-Competition Program for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) Shared with: Simon Fuller (executive producer) Cécile Frot-Coutaz (executive producer) Nigel Lythgoe (executive producer) Ken Warwick (executive producer) David Goffin (supervising producer) Charles Boyd (senior producer) Beth McNamara (producer) Paula Abdul (judge) Randy Jackson (judge) Ryan Seacrest (host)

2003 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Reality/Competition Program for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) Shared with: Simon Fuller (executive producer) Cécile Frot-Coutaz (executive producer) Simon Jones (executive producer) Nigel Lythgoe (co-executive producer) Ken Warwick (co-executive producer) David Goffin (supervising producer) Charles Boyd (senior producer) John Entz (producer) Beth McNamara (producer) Ryan Seacrest (host) Randy Jackson (judge) Paula Abdul (judge)

National Television Awards, UK

2005 Nominated National Television Award Most Popular TV Expert for: "The X Factor" (2004)

Teen Choice Awards

2008 Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice TV Personality for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

2007 Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice TV: Personality for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

2006 Nominated Teen Choice Award TV - Choice Personality for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

2005 Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice TV Personality: Male

2004 Won Teen Choice Award Choice Reality/Variety Jackass for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

Nominated Teen Choice Award Choice Reality/Variety TV Star - Male for: "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002)

Choice TV Personality

2003 Won Teen Choice Award Favorite TV Personality