Simon Cowell, famously known for his brutal TV put-downs, has dropped a bombshell about his past.
The 65-year-old star may be worth millions today, but he’s revealed there was a time when he had nothing, not even enough money for a taxi.
Speaking to Extra, the Britain’s Got Talent judge admitted he was “essentially bankrupt” after a disastrous business deal left him owing the bank half a million pounds.
“We were all persuaded to buy shares in that company … so when the big company went bust, I owed the bank personally about half a million,” he recalled.
“I had to sell everything — my house, my car. I remember walking out with just four or five quid in my pocket and thinking, ‘S***, I’m not sure I’ve even got enough for the cab fare.’”
Decades later, Cowell has bounced back and is preparing for his latest venture.
He’s joining forces with Netflix for a brand-new docu-series, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which launches this December.
The show will follow his search for the world’s next boy band sensation, charting the journey from open auditions to the release of their debut single.
Viewers will get rare access to his trademark no-nonsense approach, as well as a more personal look at the man who turned One Direction and Little Mix into global superstars.
Simon Cowell’s red-tinted glasses aren’t a fashion statement but a health necessity.
The intense, laser-like studio lights he faces during long filming sessions often bring on migraines and trigger photophobia, a condition that makes him sensitive to bright light.
RELATED: Simon Cowell, Mel B at odds over talent show contestant’s behavior