Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Simon Cowell is putting his personal life out there like never before in the new Netflix docuseries Simon Cowell: The Next Act. While the focus of the show is his journey to create the next big boy band, the six-episode show, which premieres on December 10, will also give fans a look at his life with longtime partner Lauren Silverman.
The two have been an item since 2012, after getting together in a bit of an unconventional way. Scroll down for more about the current status of their relationship (did they ever get married?!) and much more.
Are Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman married?
No, Simon and Lauren are not married. They got engaged on Christmas Eve 2021 during a family vacation to Barbados, and Simon told The Sun in 2022 that their son was the reason he proposed.
“I’ve kind of felt myself engaged for a long time, if I’m really being honest,” he explained. “Lockdown and COVID were probably make-or-break for many relationships. We were in the same house for over a year, and I thought, ‘Well, actually, we get on really, really well.’ And for Eric, as he gets older, he will be asked more and more about his parents, and I thought it was the right thing to do for him.”
However, four years later, the two have not yet walked down the aisle. In 2025, Lauren legally changed her last name to Cowell after previously using her first husband’s surname, sparking speculation that she and Simon had tied the knot. Lauren confirmed to You Magazine that they hadn’t wed yet. “Look, I am Mrs. Cowell,” she said. “I have created a life with Simon. We have a child together. We have a solid relationship.”
She explained that she decided to change her name for the “unity” of their family. “When we discussed it, Simon said, ‘Yeah, I would really like you to change your name,’” Lauren added. “It wasn’t a dramatic statement, it was just: ‘This is who I am, and this is who we are.’”
Lauren also discussed wedding plans with the outlet. “‘We will not be having a big, grand wedding with a white dress. We are very low-key,” she insisted. “We are a bit kooky and unconventional in the way we do things – it is what it is, you know? Simon is Simon! I might be in a wheelchair, and you’ll have to wheel me down the aisle.”
Simon previously told The Sun that he was taking the lead on wedding planning; otherwise, it would turn into an affair with 600 people. “No one knows when it’s going to be — that’ll be a surprise, even for Lauren,” he teased.
How did Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman meet?
Simon and Lauren first met in 2004 when they were both on vacation in Barbados. At the time, she was married to her first husband, Andrew Silverman. Andrew and Lauren maintained a friendship with Simon over the years.
In 2012, rumors surfaced that Lauren and Simon were having an affair, but the America’s Got Talent judge’s rep shut down any speculation. “Any implication or statement that my client is engaged in adultery and has allegedly broken up the marriage of Ms. Silverman is not only false but reckless,” the rep’s statement said.
However, when Lauren got pregnant with her and Simon’s child in 2013, they confirmed their relationship. People also reported that Lauren and Andrew had filed for divorce at the time her pregnancy news was revealed publicly.
Who is Lauren Silverman’s first husband?
Lauren married her first husband, Andrew Silverman, in 2003. They were married for 10 years before their 2013 divorce. Andrew is a businessman and real estate developer, reportedly worth $30 million. He and his brother, Alex, inherited the real estate company Andalex from their father.
After news of Lauren and Simon’s affair broke, Andrew told The Observer, “I am a regular person, not a tabloid thing. It was a fascinating experience, unexpected and shocking.”
In 2015, Andrew got engaged to Samantha Lerner Zimmerman, a widow and mother of two sons. Her late husband, Matthew Brett Zimmerman, died in 2012. Andrew and Samantha have since tied the knot.
Do Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman have kids?
Yes, Simon and Lauren have one child, a son named Eric, who was born on February 14, 2014. Although Simon previously said he wasn’t interested in having children, his perspective on fatherhood changed after his son’s birth.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Literally within seconds of him being born, I got it! I was born to be a dad,” Simon admitted to Extra at the time. The music producer also hinted that he and Lauren could be adding to their family. “I had a brother when I was younger, so I think it’s kind of cool to have two. Well, two or three,” he said.
In 2023, he reiterated this point in an interview with The Sun, telling the outlet, “Just two days ago I was thinking, ‘It would be nice to have another.’ Being a dad is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love every second I spend with him.”
However, he didn’t solidify any plans for more children. “Will it happen? I don’t know,” Simon said. “But I would love another kid. I really like being a dad.”
Simon is also a stepfather to Lauren’s son, Adam, from her relationship with Andrew. Adam was born in 2005. He accompanied Lauren and Eric to Simon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2018 and sometimes pops up in family photos on social media. In a teaser for Simon Cowell: The Next Act, Lauren and Simon also discussed attending Adam’s graduation ceremony.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act, Wednesday, December 10, Netflix
