Simon Cowell has amassed a massive fortune as a judge on “American Idol,” and now as a creator of “The X Factor,” but he won’t be leaving money to any future “little Simons.”
“One of the good things about making money is that you can help other people,” he told the September issue of GQ magazine, after revealing he plans to leave his fortune to “children and animals.” “It feels good when you do it. I like doing it. But the idea that the whole lot just gets moved to another person, that’s ridiculous. I don’t think it’s good for people.”
Like Bill Gates, who pledged most of his massive fortune to charity – and not his children – Simon said people only learn to appreciate money if they earn it.
“Unless you go through that discovery process, you never appreciate what you’ve got,” he said. “There’s no context. If I was given a ton of money when I was 21, God only knows where I’d be now. I certainly wouldn’t be doing this.”
And it appears there won’t be any chance of little Simon Cowell’s to be resentful of dad’s decision. He’s since changed his stance on having kids.
”[I thought about it] a little while, but not seriously. I was sort of probably just in the moment. Truthfully, with the schedule, the crazy hours, I don’t think it would work,” he said.
He also may have changed his stance on marriage to fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy.
When asked if he was “still as enthusiastic” about the idea of marriage, Simon said, “Let’s just leave that one.”
Beyond talk of his fortune, his lack of plans for children, and the questions he created regarding, what was assumed were his marriage plans, Simon confirmed something many “American Idol” fans already know — those images of Simon looking bored by performances on the show were true to his feelings.
“I was bored,” Simon admitted. “But at the same time, I had a deal with FOX, and you’ve got to do what you’ve been paid to do.”
“The X Factor” premieres on FOX on September 21 at 8/7 C.
Copyright 2015 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
