Simon Cowell, the pop impresario known for TV shows such as “American Idol,” has amassed a fortune of 200 million pounds ($331 million), enough to propel him into the Top 10 of U.K. musical millionaires, the Sunday Times said.
Cowell, 51, increased his personal wealth by 35 million pounds over the past year, taking him to No. 6 from 11 in the music section of the Sunday Times Rich List, which will be published on May 8, the newspaper said.
“Simon Cowell owns a share of the programs he’s involved in as well as being in front of the camera,” Rich List editor Ian Coxon said yesterday in a telephone interview. “He’s busy behind the scenes and also responsible for many of the performers, so he’s making pots of money in all directions.”
The annual Sunday Times Rich List is based on identifiable wealth, including land, property and other assets such as art and racehorses, or significant shares in publicly quoted companies, and excludes bank accounts, the paper said.
New entries include Moya Doherty and John McColgan (70 million pounds), who own the show “Riverdance,” and AC/DC’s lead singer, Brian Johnson (50 million pounds).
Top 50 music millionaires 2011
1.Clive Calder – £1,300m
2.Lord Lloyd-Webber – £680m
3.Sir Cameron Mackintosh – £675m
4.Sir Paul McCartney – £495m
5.Simon Fuller – £375m
6.Simon Cowell – £200m
7.Sir Elton John – £195m
8.Sir Mick Jagger – £190m
9.Sting – £180m
10.Keith Richards – £175m
11.Olivia and Dhani Harrison – £170m
12.David and Victoria Beckham – £165m
13=Jamie Palumbo – £150m
13=Ringo Starr – £150m
15.Sir Tim Rice – £143m
16.Sir Tom Jones – £140m
17.Eric Clapton – £125m
18.Roger Ames – £120m
19=Phil Colins – £115m
19=Rod Stewart – £115m
21.Barry and Robin Gibb – £110m
22.Roger Waters – £105m
23.David Bowie – £100m
24.Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne – £95m
25=George Michael – £90m
25=Robbie Williams – £90m
27=David Gilmour – £85m
27=Brian May – £85m
27=Charlie Watts – £85m
30=Chris Blackwell – £80m
30=Robert Plant – £80m
30=Roger Taylor – £80m
33.Jimmy Page – £75m
34=Moya Doherty and John McGolgan – £70m
34=Chris Wright - £70m
36.John Deacon – £65m
37.Noel and Liam Gallagher – £63m
38=Judy Craymer – £62m
38=Mark Knopfler – £62m
40.Engelbert Humperdinck – £60m
41.Nick Mason – £50m
42=Brian Johnson – £50m
42=Van Morrison – £50m
42=Sir Cliff Richard – £50m
45.Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow – £48m
46.John Paul Jones – £45m
47=Mick Hucknall – £40m
47=Kylie Minogue – £40m
47=Bernie Taupin – £40m
47=Pete Townshend – £40m
The Sunday Times Rich List 2011