Simon Jordan has lived a life full of bold decisions, huge business deals and football drama. He became a millionaire through mobile phones, bought the club he supported as a boy, lost much of his fortune and built a second career in broadcasting. Known for his sharp opinions on talkSPORT, he speaks about football with the experience of someone who has owned a club, paid the bills and faced the consequences.
Who Is Simon Jordan?
Simon Jordan Born on 24 September 1967 in Thornton Heath, South London, he is an English businessman, writer and sports broadcaster. He is best known for serving as chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club between 2000 and 2010. As of October 2026, he is 59 years old. His career has taken him from selling mobile phones to debating some of the biggest issues in British sport. His direct style has made him a familiar voice among football supporters.
Early Life and Education
Simon Jordan grew up in South London and attended Purley High School for Boys. Football played an important part in his youth. He supported Crystal Palace and spent time in the club’s youth set-up, but did not become a senior professional player. His father, Peter Jordan, also had a connection with the game. Those early experiences helped shape his interest in competition, leadership and winning. Rather than follow a playing career, he moved into business while still young.
How Simon Jordan Made His Money
The Pocket Phone Shop Success
In 1994, he started The Pocket Phone Shop with Andrew Briggs. Both had experience in mobile phone retail and invested a combined £30,000. Mobile phones were becoming popular, and the pair saw an opportunity to build a chain of shops. Their company grew quickly. By 1999 it was turning over more than £50 million a year. In June 2000, the business was sold to One2One for £73 million. Contemporary accounts placed Jordan’s share of the deal at £36.5 million.
Why the Business Worked
The company offered competitive deals at a time when many customers were buying their first mobile phone. Its success gave Jordan the money to pursue a very different ambition: owning a football club.
Crystal Palace: His Biggest Football Gamble
In July 2000, he purchased Crystal Palace for approximately £10.6 million. At just 32, he became one of English football’s youngest club chairmen. Buying his boyhood team was an emotional achievement, but running it proved far harder.
Promotion, Relegation and Financial Pressure
The club enjoyed a memorable rise under manager Iain Dowie. In 2004, Palace defeated West Ham United in the play-off final and secured promotion to the Premier League. The celebration was short-lived. Palace were relegated in 2005, and the cost of wages, transfers and daily operations placed growing pressure on the club. Jordan also became known for challenging football officials and speaking openly about club finances. In January 2010, Crystal Palace entered administration. His ten-year spell as chairman ended, and the experience changed both his financial position and his view of the football business.
Simon Jordan Net Worth in 2026
Simon Jordan exact personal net worth is not independently confirmed. Figures published on entertainment websites vary, and none gives a full account of his assets, debts or investments. The sale of The Pocket Phone Shop made him wealthy, but ownership of Crystal Palace proved expensive. In a 2012 interview, he said he had lost between £50 million and £60 million in cash and assets over several years, with football responsible for much of the damage. He later earned income through broadcasting, writing and other business activities. However, his former wealth should not be mistaken for his present fortune.
Simon Jordan Wife and Partner
Is He Married?
There is no reliable confirmation that he has a wife. His long-term partner is Michelle Dewberry, a businesswoman and television presenter who won the second series of The Apprentice in 2006. Dewberry has worked in television and political discussion programmes. The couple have kept many parts of their home life private, although they have spoken about important family experiences.
Previous Relationships and Children
Simon Jordan has two children. His daughter, Cameron, was born in January 2008 during his relationship with former model Suzi Walker. He and Michelle Dewberry welcomed a son in July 2020. Their baby arrived prematurely and needed hospital care after birth, an experience Dewberry has discussed publicly. Jordan also previously dated Meg Mathews, who had been married to musician Noel Gallagher.
Broadcasting and Media Career
White & Jordan on talkSPORT
After his time at Palace, Jordan became a regular figure in sports broadcasting. He is especially known for co-presenting White & Jordan with Jim White on talkSPORT. He discusses club ownership, player transfers, managers, agents and the rules governing football. His views can divide opinion, but his years in a boardroom give him a perspective that differs from that of former players. He has also worked on sports interviews, boxing discussions and newspaper columns, including writing for the Daily Mail. His media career has helped him reach a new audience beyond Crystal Palace supporters.
Simon Jordan Books and Writing
Be Careful What You Wish For
Simon Jordan 2012 autobiography, Be Careful What You Wish For, tells the story of his rise in business and difficult years as a club owner. It covers the excitement of promotion, arguments behind the scenes and the heavy financial cost of following a childhood dream. The book became a finalist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and was shortlisted for a British Sports Book Award.
Poke the Bear
His next book, Poke the Bear, is scheduled for publication on 5 November 2026. It explores the workings of professional football, from club owners and agents to managers, tactics and players.
Health, Personal Challenges and Recovery
In August 2023, Jordan disclosed that he had undergone major surgery following a prostate cancer diagnosis. He explained that he had experienced no clear symptoms before testing. By speaking openly about his treatment, he helped draw attention to the importance of discussing health concerns with medical professionals. His later broadcasts marked a return to the work that had become central to his public life.
Influence and Life Today
In 2026, he remains active in football debate. His views on the Premier League, financial regulation and player behaviour continue to attract attention. His return to Selhurst Park with his son also showed that his bond with Crystal Palace had survived the difficult end to his ownership. He continues to question how owners balance sporting dreams with the demands of modern finances.
His story is unusual: a successful retailer who became a football chairman, suffered severe losses and found a fresh role on national radio. Whether discussing money, management or personal mistakes, his greatest strength as a broadcaster is his first-hand experience.
Final Thoughts
Simon Jordan life has been shaped by ambition, risk and reinvention. From a fast-growing phone business to the highs and lows of Crystal Palace, he has experienced both striking success and painful setbacks. His books and broadcasting work now allow him to share what those years taught him, while his family remains an important part of his life.
