Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell at the National Television Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 2006

Simon Philip Cowell (born 1959-10-07 in Brighton, England) is a British A & R (artist and repertoire) executive for BMG Records. He is probably best known as a judge on the television programs The X-Factor and American Idol.

Sourced

• Very simple. I'm putting up the money, and I also have ears.
  • On Americans who question his right to judge Americans since he is British
  • Quoted in Bill Keveney, "Viewers 'Idol'-ize this saucy search for a superstar," USA Today (2002-06-18)

• You know Paula, who I couldn't look at the beginning of the series... I love her to death now. I hate to admit it but I do.
  • Quoted on Entertainment Tonight (2003-05-21)

• Sinitta and Jackie are my family now. I don't think of them as ex-girlfriends anymore. They are an extension of my life... It must be infuriating, but I'd never change because my ex-girlfriends are so close I couldn't imagine life without them.
  • Quoted in mirror.co.uk interview (2005-10-22)

• Normally, they want me to be rude to them. People come up to me and sing, and I say "That was great. Thank you." And they're like "Well, aren't you going to be rude to me?" No! When I miss auditions, contestants get upset that I'm not there, because they expect me to be cruel to them — it's some sort of badge of honor. That's how crazy everything is.
  • Quoted in interview, Playboy magazine (February 2007)

• If I tape an 11-hour day, guess which parts end up on air. Not the bits when I'm pleasant, but the parts when I'm obnoxious.
  • Quoted in interview, Playboy magazine (February 2007)