Simon was born in Brighton, England. His parents' names are Julie Cowell and Eric Cowell. First made a TV appearance on UK's Pop Idol. Then on America's American Idol.


Dropped out of school at the age of 16. He worked as a mail boy at EMI and eventually worked his way to become an A&R representative. 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 sister's husband is the cousin of pop star Robbie Williams. His best friend is his London neighbor Jackie St Claire. Made his screen debut in 1990, on the UK TV series 'Sale of the Century', his prize for winning - Kitchen Utensils. 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. Ranked #6 in the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture". He is good friends with Emma Noble.