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Simon Cowell standing with brothers Tony and Nicholas© Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

All you need to know about Simon Cowell's siblings – from showbiz reporter to successful businessman

The Britain's Got Talent judge grew up in London

Sophie Hamilton
Parenting Editor
Updated: October 23, 2024
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We often hear about TV star Simon Cowell's fiancée Lauren Silverman and their ten-year-old son Eric, but did you know that the Britain's Got Talent judge has five siblings?

Alongside brother Nicholas, who is a successful property developer, the music mogul is also a half-brother to John, Tony, Michael and June. Although Nicholas and Tony have public personas, the other three often keep out of the spotlight and rarely appear alongside Simon.

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Want to know more about the X Factor creator's big family? Read on…

Brother Nicholas

Simon, 65, and his younger brother Nicholas, 63, were raised in Elstree, Hertfordshire, by their dancer mother Julie and their music industry executive father Eric. Nicholas has been photographed with Simon in the past, memorably honouring his big brother in 2018 when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Nicholas has two children with his wife Katie, lives in London and is a property developer. He heads up The Cowell Group, which is listed on Google as 'one of the UK's leading property investment and development companies.'

Nicholas Cowell in a white suit with Simon Cowell in a grey suit© Alan Davidson/Shutterstock
Simon's brother is in the property business

In an interview with The Independent in 2012, Nick spoke of his 50th birthday party, during which Simon made a speech. He joked: "I'd done a speech at his 50th, and I ripped him to pieces! So he did the same for me."

Simon and his brother reportedly fell out several years ago, although it is believed that their relationship is thawing.

Half-brothers John, Tony and Michael

Simon has three half-brothers: John, Tony and Michael Cowell, from his father's first marriage. Little is known about Michael and John, but Tony works in the media like Simon.

Anthony 'Tony' Cowell, 73, lives in Cornwall with his wife and works as an author, journalist and showbiz reporter. He co-wrote Simon's autobiography, I Don't Mean to be Rude, but..., and appears as a pundit on TV in the US. Tony also joined Simon to celebrate his Hollywood star in 2018.

Tony Cowell in a black suit with wife Emma Lloyd-Cowell in a red dress© John Phillips
Tony has become a famous writer and journalist

The star was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2022, with Simon supporting the reporter through his diagnosis. "I could hear he was extremely upset — I had to calm him down," he explained. "He then switched and became Mr Helpful." He revealed that Simon had personally offered to pay for Tony's care.

John, meanwhile, is also a businessman and runs Cowell Consulting. Speaking to Building in 2004, he joked that he could have been behind Simon's move into the music world, saying: "Simon's not particularly musical. I had aspirations to be Hendrix or Eric Clapton. My fantasy was to be behind a mike on an electric guitar."

Tony Cowell sat in an armchair© Shutterstock
Simon offered to help with Tony's cancer diagnosis

Michael and Simon ended up in a feud over a Spanish dancer during a trip away, and despite not talking for 17 years, the pair eventually repaired their relationship. Revealing the falling out, Michael told the Sunday Mirror in 2010: "We met her in a bar and she was just Simon's type - beautiful, with long, dark hair. We both fancied her, and Simon ended up getting together with her. I guess Simon won on youth and looks."

Half-sister June

Simon has a half-sister called June from his father's first marriage, however, the siblings are seldom seen together. She was four when her parents divorced.

Simon Cowell© AFF-USA/Shutterstock
The star's siblings often stay out of the spotlight

In 2009, June, who has two daughters, Luisa and Maria del Mar, spoke to The Mail about her relationship with her brother. "He is busy in a way that even very wealthy people with high-flying careers are not," she said. "Simon is lovely, very family-orientated and I know he likes nothing better than to go home to his mum for a roast dinner. It is hard not to remember him as the cheeky, boisterous and mischievous little boy he once was."

The article also revealed that June is tall at 5 foot 10 inches, previously modelled and lived in Spain before getting divorced.

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