Simon Cowell has revealed one of the strangest fan encounters of his career: a couple once offered him $150,000 to judge them having sex. The bizarre proposal came during a dinner out, when a man approached Cowell to compliment him on his TV work and casually asked if he’d be willing to critique him and his wife in bed—for a hefty price.
Cowell recalled the incident on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, explaining that while he’s used to unusual requests, this one stood out. “I’m like, are you winding me up?” he said. “He says, ‘No, we’ll pay you.’” Though tempted by the eye-popping figure, Cowell declined, saying, “I just can’t do it.”
The music mogul said odd public interactions come with the territory of being famous, especially in the U.S., where people often ask him to insult them in his trademark blunt style. But this was a new level. Even podcast host Elizabeth Day joked that Cowell had finally found his moral boundary.
Despite the awkwardness, Cowell said he’s grown to enjoy these fan moments. As someone who describes himself as shy and awkward at parties, he finds that being recognized helps break the ice and lets him talk about the one subject he loves most—his shows and the artists he’s helped discover.
