Simon Cowell

Simon Phillip Cowell born 7 October 1959 is an English television personality entrepreneur and record executive He is the founder and sole owner of the British entertainment company Syco and is the creator of the X Factor and Got Talent franchises He has judged on the British television talent competition shows Pop Idol 20012003 The X Factor UK 20042010 20142018 and Britains Got Talent 2007present and the American television talent competition shows American Idol 20022010 The X Factor US 20112013 and Americas Got Talent 2016present After some success in the 1980s and 1990s as a record producer talent agent and consultant in the UK music industry Cowell came to public prominence in 2001 as a judge on Pop Idol a talent television show which he and its creator Simon Fuller successfully pitched to ITV Controller of Entertainment Claudia Rosencrantz He subsequently created The X Factor in 2004 and Got Talent in 2006 which have become successful television franchises sold around the world Cowell often makes blunt and controversial comments as a television music and talent show judge including insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities He combines activities in both the television and music industries Cowell has produced and promoted successful singles and albums for various recording acts whom he has signed and taken under his wing including Little Mix James Arthur Labrinth Leona Lewis Fifth Harmony Il Divo Olly Murs Noah Cyrus Cher Lloyd Fleur East Ella Henderson and Susan Boyle He has also signed successful boy bands such as Westlife One Direction PrettyMuch and CNCO In 2004 and 2010 Time named Cowell one of the 100 most influential people in the world In 2008 The Daily Telegraph ranked him sixth in their list of the 100 most powerful people in British cultureThe same year he received the Special Recognition Award at the National Television AwardsAt the 2010 British Academy Television Awards Cowell received the BAFTA Special Award for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and for his development of new talent In 2018 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category Description above from the Wikipedia article Simon Phillip Cowell licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia