Simon Cowell

He rose to prominence when cast to be one of the three original judges of the singing competition show American Idol. The show produced a handful of huge names in the industry, starting from Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Cowell stayed there from its inception in 2002 to 2010. While judging the aforementioned program, he also became one of the panels in The X Factor, both UK and US versions. He popularized the line “I Don’t Mean to be Rude, but….”

In recent years, Simon has been flying back and forth to the US and the UK mainly because of his investment in another world-renowned competition show, Got Talent. Because of his “outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry,” the British Academy Television Awards presented him with the BAFTA Special Award in 2010, while he earned a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.