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Simon Cowell, the entertainment mogul whose empire spans from The X Factor to America’s Got Talent, has shaken conventional expectations of inheritance: his estimated $600 million fortune will not go to his son, Eric Cowell. The TV personality told Mirror U.K. in 2013:
I’m going to leave my money to somebody. A charity, probably — kids and dogs. I don’t believe in passing on from one generation to another.
Instead, Cowell’s vision of legacy revolves around opportunity and mentorship:
Your legacy has to be that hopefully you gave enough people an opportunity, so that they could do well, and you gave them your time, taught them what you know.
Even at 66, Cowell plans to keep working well into his 80s or 90s, showing his dedication to his job outweighs the accumulation of wealth. With earnings reportedly between $50 to $100 million a year, the music and TV tycoon has been among the highest-paid celebrities for over two decades.
Who is Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman’s Son: All About Eric Cowell
Eric Cowell | IG@simoncowell
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Eric Cowell | IG@simoncowell
Eric Cowell may be the heir to Simon Cowell’s heart, but not his wallet. Simon Cowell softened instantly with the birth of Eric. He confessed during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2021.
After I lost my parents, I genuinely felt … I would never feel that kind of love for anyone ever again. I thought that was it … until I saw the scan of him for the first time.
Continuing, Simon admitted:
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From that moment I saw the scan, I was like ‘That is it, I’m besotted.’ Now I just cannot imagine my life without him.
Born on February 14, 2014, Eric carries the name of Simon’s late father, Eric, aiming to mirror the cherished father-son bond Cowell had with his own dad. Simon’s publicist, Max Clifford, explained to PEOPLE:
He wants to recreate the father-son relationship that he got when he was a little one from his dad.
Eric has already profoundly influenced Cowell’s personal life. Before his birth, Simon confessed his life revolved almost entirely around work. He told The Sun.
If Eric hadn’t come along, God knows what would have happened. Before Eric, my life was 99 percent work. I was obsessed with it.
The child also helped Simon cope after the death of his mother in 2015. He shared on The Diary Of A CEO podcast in 2024:
Without question, [Eric saved me]. I really, really had reached the point where nothing mattered.
Their bond extends beyond daily life. The duo co-created a children’s book series called Wishfits. Cowell described writing the series with Eric as “magical” on Instagram. Even Eric’s influence on Simon’s habits is notable; he has nearly helped his dad quit smoking, keeping a “strict” watch that Simon humorously compared to being back in school. The America’s Got Talent host revealed in an interview with Extra:
He is really strict. If he catches me, it’s like being back in school. He’s the teacher.
The young Cowell has ambitions of his own, planning to play drums in a rock band and audition for Britain’s Got Talent. Simon told Entertainment Tonight:
He’s now decided he’s going to audition for Britain’s Got Talent. I think he wants to be in a rock band. He loves Green Day.
Will Eric carve his own path entirely separate from the family fortune?
Simon Cowell Revealed Financial Worries and Surprising Earnings Truth
Simon Cowell | Credit: IG@simoncowell Despite a headline-grabbing fortune, Simon Cowell admits money remains a concern. On the How To Fail podcast with Elizabeth Day in May 2025, he said (via Metro):
I always worry about money because I think you have to in a way. You think about Covid as an example. No one could have predicted Covid.
Reflecting on global instability, wars, and market unpredictability, he acknowledged:
What is safe? Is it gold, cash, stocks? I don’t think anything’s safe any longer. I guess your house. Someone did actually say to me once – thank god – ‘live in your money’. And it was really good advice, i.e, enjoy it, and be happy with it, but understand that the world is precarious
When told his net worth is estimated at £500 million, Cowell denied it:
Oh God, it’s not that. I’m not even close to that. I’m being serious. I’m not. I’ve made a lot, I’m not going to lie. I’ve made a bit of money, yes, but not that much, no.
He added that although he has “enough” and doesn’t yearn for excess, he’s grown disenchanted with ostentatious displays of wealth.
It’s fascinating to see someone like Simon Cowell choose legacy and purpose over inheritance. Could we see more celebrities following his philanthropic blueprint? Drop your thoughts below!
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