Simon Cowell faces High Court claim over £100,000 napkin deal dispute

Simon Cowell is facing a High Court claim from former business adviser Ian Rosenblatt over an alleged agreement written on a napkin. Rosenblatt, who worked for Cowell from 2018, says he is owed a percentage of a confidential deal made in 2025 or £100,000 in damages for breach of contract.

The dispute centres on a dinner at Cowell’s London home in late 2022. Katherine Ratcliffe, representing Rosenblatt, said the two men reached an oral agreement. She told the court the terms were later written on a napkin and signed by Cowell. The napkin was then formalised in a document signed by Cowell in February 2023 at his Cotswolds home.

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Terms of the alleged agreement

The napkin agreement, according to Ratcliffe, stipulated Rosenblatt would receive 8% of any deal over $30 million, 10% over $50 million, and 15% over $100 million. Rosenblatt claims he invoiced Cowell in 2025 but has not been paid. Ratcliffe said the invoice was not settled within 30 days, breaching the agreement.

Rosenblatt helped Cowell secure full ownership of SyCo Entertainment in July 2020, transferring shares from Sir Philip Green and Sony. He was later appointed a director of SyCo but resigned in late 2022. Ratcliffe said Rosenblatt found working with Cowell challenging, describing communication as difficult and Cowell as unpredictable and emotional.

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By September 2022 Mr Rosenblatt intended to formally resign as director of Syco, and cease providing business advisory services to Mr Cowell, because of how challenging he had found working with Mr Cowell.

Katherine Ratcliffe, representing Ian Rosenblatt

What happens next

Cowell has not yet filed a defence to the claim. A spokesperson for Cowell declined to comment when approached by the PA News Agency. The High Court will determine whether the agreement is legally binding. No date has been set for the hearing.