Simon Cowell

“It's the government's job to encourage entrepreneurialism and investment. Most importantly, it's the government's duty to inspire confidence.”

“I was bought an electric guitar when I was 12, but my guitar teacher beat me up. I didn't like guitar lessons and I got quite bored. My teacher was obviously bored giving me lessons, and one day I offered him a liquorice toffee, but he didn't answer. So I threw it at him, it hit him in the face, and he sort of beat me up.”

“I'm not that musical. I don't really know how a record is produced, and, funnily enough, I don't want to.”

“What I would argue in my defence is that shows like 'Britain's Got Talent' and 'The X Factor' have actually got people more interested in music again and are sending more people into record stores.”

“I didn't have any qualifications when I left school - I had three O-levels.”

“Have I got a black book? Yes, it's called a mobile phone. I do get offers. There is no shortage of people if you want to go on dates - working in TV, living in L.A., it is there if you want it.”

“I think America is a hard nut to crack. But once you get a toehold, it's a great place for an entrepreneur because people are so enthusiastic, and you have the most enthusiastic audiences in world.”

“I turned down many chances to be on TV before 'Pop Idol' because I really wasn't interested in being famous. I didn't need it and didn't want it.”

“The minute you start assuming that the audience is very happy to see the same show again, you're dead.”

“Rules equal boredom, and I don't like that.”

“The object of this competition is not to be mean to the losers but to find a winner. The process makes you mean because you get frustrated.”

“I've always been petrified of working for a boss who I didn't like but who I was in fear of, because I wanted my salary.”

“As an actor, I really like Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think he's a genius.”

“Money brings you security and choice. You can make decisions in a different way if you have a lot of money. But when you have nothing, you have a naivety, and a more fearless attitude because you have nothing to lose.”

“I've had Botox, but then again pretty much everyone I know has. To me, Botox is no more unusual than toothpaste. It works. You do it once a year - who cares?”

“I've spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the very best security and I can assure you my homes are as safe as the Bank of England.”

“It's not my habit to kiss and tell. I've never done it.”

“I work out three or four times a week, I have Botox, take tons of vitamins and vitamin infusions - if you believe that these things work, you will feel better.”

“If I was gay, why wouldn't I admit it? It wouldn't harm me.”

“I got good advice once. Someone said to me: 'Live in your money rather than look at it.'”