Simon Jordan built a successful mobile phone business, bought his childhood football club and later became a familiar voice on British radio. His career includes major commercial achievements, painful financial losses and a lasting move into sports broadcasting.
Best known for his decade as Crystal Palace chairman, he now reaches audiences through talkSPORT, interviews and newspaper columns. His views often draw on decisions he once had to make himself, from hiring managers to funding player transfers.
Behind the strong opinions is a varied story involving family, entrepreneurship, publishing, entertainment and a serious health challenge.
Simon Jordan Quick Bio Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Jordan |
| Date of birth | 24 September 1967 |
| Age | 59 as of 24 September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Thornton Heath, south London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Purley High School for Boys |
| Main work | Businessman, broadcaster, author and producer |
| Father | Peter Jordan |
| Brother | Dominic Jordan |
| Partner | Michelle Dewberry |
| Children | Two |
| Famous business | The Pocket Phone Shop |
| Football role | Crystal Palace owner and chairman, 2000–2010 |
| Radio programme | White & Jordan |
| Autobiography | Be Careful What You Wish For |
| Current net worth | No verified figure |
| Salary | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Family Background
Born in Thornton Heath, Jordan grew up close to Crystal Palace’s home, Selhurst Park. Supporting the club became an important part of his childhood and later influenced one of his biggest business decisions.
His father, Peter, played for Palace at youth level but did not make a first-team appearance. That connection gave football a place within the family before Simon became involved as an owner.
His brother, Dominic, later helped with the running of Palace. Former manager Neil Warnock acknowledged the time and effort Dominic devoted to the club.
Reliable details about his mother remain limited. Conflicting names on biography websites should not be treated as settled facts.
Education and Early Football Ambitions
Jordan attended Purley High School for Boys. There is no securely verified university qualification in the sources covering his life.
He had schoolboy football connections with Crystal Palace and Chelsea. However, he did not establish a professional playing career. He later acknowledged that talent alone was not enough without the necessary commitment.
Business eventually became his main route forward. His later football influence came through ownership, funding and leadership rather than performances on the pitch.
How Simon Jordan Built His Business Career
His early working life developed within the mobile phone industry. Before his major success, he was involved in smaller ventures, including Wright Connections.
Those early experiences preceded his partnership with Andrew Briggs. Together, they established The Pocket Phone Shop in 1994, building a retail business during the rapid growth of mobile phone ownership in Britain.
The opportunity was clear: mobile phones were becoming everyday products, and customers needed shops where they could compare devices and contracts.
The Pocket Phone Shop Sale
The business expanded into a national chain before its sale to One2One in 2000.
Contemporary coverage valued the transaction at £73 million, with £36.5 million attributed to Jordan’s share. Later biographies often use a rounded company sale figure of £75 million.
These amounts need careful handling. The total value of a business sale is different from the proceeds received by one owner. Neither amount provides a reliable measure of his wealth today.
The deal nevertheless transformed his financial position and enabled his move into football ownership.
Crystal Palace Ownership and Premier League Promotion
Jordan bought Crystal Palace in 2000, aged 32. Taking charge of the team he had supported as a boy gave the purchase a strong personal meaning.
His first years brought pressure as well as ambition. Palace narrowly avoided relegation in 2001 after Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant took charge for the final two matches.
The club’s fortunes improved dramatically under Iain Dowie. In 2004, Palace defeated West Ham United in the play-off final and won promotion to the Premier League.
That achievement remains the main sporting highlight of his ownership. However, Palace were relegated the following season, bringing fresh financial and sporting challenges.
Managers, Disputes and Difficult Decisions
His chairmanship included frequent managerial changes. Steve Bruce, Trevor Francis, Steve Kember, Iain Dowie, Peter Taylor and Neil Warnock all managed Palace during his ownership.
Jordan became known for direct criticism and firm opinions about how football should operate. His relationship with Dowie later developed into a legal dispute following the manager’s departure.
Former staff have offered different views of his leadership. Some valued his backing, while others described difficult working relationships.
Administration in 2010
Crystal Palace entered administration on 26 January 2010, ending Jordan’s control.
The financial collapse changed the direction of his career. A new ownership group later took over, beginning a separate chapter in the club’s history.
His decade at Palace therefore carries two lasting memories: promotion to the Premier League and the financial problems that ended his tenure.
Simon Jordan Net Worth, Salary and Income
His current net worth is not supported by a dependable public figure. Many online estimates repeat historic business values without accounting for later losses or present liabilities.
In 2012, he described losing much of his earlier fortune, including approximately £40 million through Palace. That account explains the scale of his football losses but does not establish his finances today.
His talkSPORT salary has not been reliably disclosed either. Precise annual earnings should therefore not be presented as confirmed facts.
His commercial work includes radio, newspaper columns, books, podcasts and corporate speaking. Earlier ventures also covered retail, hospitality, publishing and entertainment.
The payment terms and financial returns from these activities remain private.
Other Businesses and Creative Ventures
Football and mobile phones account for only part of his commercial history.
He helped fund Octane, the magazine devoted to classic and performance cars. The publication launched in 2003 and has acknowledged his support.
Companies House records his directorship of Octane Media between March 2003 and March 2007. Those dates establish his formal role, rather than the exact timing of every investment decision.
He also operated Club Bar and Dining in London, extending his interests into hospitality.
Film Production and Company Roles
Jordan supported the stage production and film adaptation of Telstar, which explores the life of record producer Joe Meek. His entertainment work also included backing a production of Sweeney Todd.
Official company records connect him with ventures such as Aspiration Films, Aspiration Properties and Aspiration Investments.
These records describe historical roles. They should not be used to claim that he still owns or operates every business associated with his name.
Broadcasting, Podcasts and Books
Jordan developed his media career through newspaper writing, television and sports discussion.
In 2007, he took part in ITV’s Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway. He later became especially familiar to radio audiences through White & Jordan, which he co-presents with Jim White on talkSPORT.
His ownership experience gives him a particular angle on football finances, transfers and management. He often discusses the pressures facing the people who fund clubs.
His podcast credits include Up Front with Simon Jordan and Three Up Front, featuring Graeme Souness and Troy Deeney.
Writing and Recognition
His autobiography, Be Careful What You Wish For, was first published in 2012. It covers his business success and the personal cost of owning Palace.
His writing has also included newspaper columns. Meanwhile, White & Jordan received Audio Show of the Year honours at the 2021 and 2023 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards.
Partner, Children and Personal Life
Jordan’s partner is Michelle Dewberry, the businesswoman and broadcaster who won the second series of The Apprentice.
There is no securely verified marriage announcement. Describing Dewberry as his partner is therefore more accurate than calling her his wife.
He has two children. His daughter, Cameron, was born in 2008 during his relationship with Suzi Walker.
He and Dewberry welcomed a son in July 2020. Dewberry has spoken about their son’s premature birth and the hospital care he needed.
Height, Religion and Background
Reliable measurements for his height and current weight are unavailable. His religious beliefs and ethnic background are also not securely established through personal statements.
He is British and speaks with an English accent. A more specific accent label would require stronger evidence than general biographical accounts provide.
Health and Recent Work
In August 2023, Jordan disclosed that he had undergone significant surgery for prostate cancer. He discussed the experience when returning to his radio programme.
His openness brought a personal health issue into his public work. That disclosure should not be used to make assumptions about his current medical condition.
His recent professional activity includes a 2026 World Cup podcast collaboration with Piers Morgan called World Cup Uncensored.
In September 2026, he continued contributing to football debate, including discussions about Celtic and the length of Manchester City’s financial proceedings. His comments on future outcomes remain opinions, rather than established results.
Simon Jordan’s Legacy
Jordan’s career combines entrepreneurship, football ambition and reinvention. Building a national retail business gave him the means to enter football, while losing control of Palace forced a major change.
His broadcasting career has allowed him to turn that experience into discussion about how sport works behind the scenes.
His public reputation also reflects the demands of moving between industries. Selling phones, running a football club and interviewing sporting figures require different skills. Across those roles, his willingness to speak directly has remained a constant, shaping both his business relationships and his place in British broadcasting.
A balanced view recognises both his achievements and his mistakes. His story includes business growth, promotion, financial loss and professional recovery, making him a distinctive figure across British business and sports media.
FAQs
1. Who is Simon Jordan?
Simon Jordan is a British businessman, broadcaster and author. He formerly owned Crystal Palace Football Club and co-presents White & Jordan on talkSPORT.
2. How old is Simon Jordan?
He is 59 years old as of 24 September 2026. He was born on 24 September 1967 in Thornton Heath, south London.
3. Who are Simon Jordan’s parents?
His father, Peter Jordan, played youth football for Crystal Palace. His mother’s name has not been reliably verified.
4. Is Simon Jordan married?
There is no verified confirmation that he is married. His partner is broadcaster and businesswoman Michelle Dewberry, with whom he shares a son.
5. Does Simon Jordan have siblings?
He has a brother named Dominic Jordan, who helped run Crystal Palace during Simon’s ownership.
