American Idol's Biggest Villain Is Worth How Much?!
Simon Cowell is proof that you can make a living - a good one, at that - by staying true to yourself. The 59-year-old is the brains behind Syco Entertainment, which is the birthplace of some of your primetime favorites, including America's Got Talent and The X Factor. Oh, and he's also the guy who made One Direction a household name.
As you can imagine, every show that Simon worked on brought in millions - and he reaped the rewards. The music and television tycoon is worth an estimated $550 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2017, he picked up an annual salary of $95 million, making him one of the highest paid TV personalities.
Humble Beginnings
Simon's successful music career started when his father Eric, an executive at EMI Music Publishing, got him a job in the record label's mailroom. He was ambitious from the start: After failing to get promoted, Simon quit EMI to start E&S Music, which he later quit to form Fanfare Records. In 1986, Simon had his first hit song with "So Macho" by Sinitta.
He continued to work his way up in the music industry but things really took off in 1995 when he met Soldier Soldier actors Robson Green and Jerome Flynn and convinced them to record "Unchained Melody." This song was the first of Simon's to top the charts - and he's been there ever since.
American Idol and Beyond
The year 2001 was a game-changer: He was named a judge on the first series of U.K.'s Pop Idol. TV execs now saw Simon as a reality TV star in addition to a well-respected music mogul. This led him to his first claim to fame in the U.S.: American Idol. Here, he charmed viewers for eight years with his signature - and snarky - phrase: "I don't mean to be rude but..."
The popularity of American Idol transformed Simon's appeal in the U.S. and abroad. To follow up, Simon founded Syco Entertainment, a music and television company. Since 2003, Syco Entertainment has sold over 200 million albums and achieved 180 number one singles worldwide. Woah.
As the head of Syco, he launched The X Factor in the U.K. in 2004. He then created and produced Britain's Got Talent, America's Got Talent, and The X Factor USA. Along the way, he's helped turn everyday folks into superstars that we all know and love - One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, to name a few. While The X Factor USA only lasted four seasons, his other shows are some of the most-viewed reality shows on air. At its peak, The X Factor peaked at 19.7 million viewers in the U.K.
Family First
He doesn't put all of his money back into his business, the doting dad also invests in prime real estate. In addition to his London and Beverly Hills homes, he recently dished out $25 million (!) for a 10,000-square-foot Malibu beachfront property.
But even though he has half a billion dollars to his name, Simon still believes it's important that his son Eric works hard for his money. When discussing the likelihood that his 4-year-old will take over his music empire one day, Simon said he'll start out just like he did - as an intern. "Not that anyone should have anything for nothing because I would do what my dad did. I would have him start as intern and learn the job," he told extra.
Our guess is that little Eric will be jusssssst fine (same with Simon).
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