Television personality Simon Cowell has disclosed that he once spent £3 million on entertainment for an extravagant birthday party, which included what he termed "burlesque dancing v@ginas." The former The X Factor judge made the revelation during the debut episode of Tales from the Celebrity Trenches. Host Jamie East asked Cowell whether reports of the unusual performance were accurate, to which Cowell replied, "Absolutely correct. Those days are over, by the way."
The music mogul expressed shock at the final cost of the celebration, reportedly held for his 50th birthday during the peak of his fame in the late 2000s. "I didn't know it was going to cost that much, I really didn't," he said. "I think I'm still paying for it now. I honestly couldn't believe it." Cowell also admitted he barely recalls the event itself, stating, "I wish I could remember it. I honestly can't. I remember taking, I think, half a Xanax before that because I was so anxious."
The television personality, globally recognized for shows like Britain's Got Talent and American Idol, reflected on his past spending habits, acknowledging he wasted large sums during his early success. East also brought up reports that Cowell once checked into the luxury Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park solely to take a bath because his home bathtub was broken, allegedly costing around £2,000. "I might have done that," Cowell admitted. "Do you know, what I p***ed away so much money in hindsight. I do think about that, because my God, two grand on a bath?"
Cowell noted that his attitude toward money has changed significantly over time, particularly after amassing wealth through television and music ventures, including managing successful acts like One Direction. "I'm a bit more cautious now, I think because I didn't have a lot of money to start with," he explained. "So when I started to make a lot of money, I'm like, 'wow, this is fantastic.' And now I'm like, 'God, why did I spend all that money?' You know, all those lists, I'm not worth anywhere near that."
