Simon Cowell reveals terrifying details of bike accident – “I thought I’d never walk again”

The music mogul opens up about his 2020 crash and how it changed his life — and mindset — forever

Simon Cowell feared he might never walk again after a serious electric bike crash in 2020. In a new interview, the music mogul shares just how close he came to permanent injury — and how the terrifying moment made him rethink what really matters.

Simon Cowell has built an empire in music and television, known around the world for his role on shows like America’s Got Talent and The X Factor. But in 2020, the 65-year-old hit a life-changing speed bump — literally.

While trying out a new electric trail bike in the courtyard of his Malibu home, Cowell was thrown several feet into the air after pulling the throttle. The impact was instant and severe.

“I knew I’d broken my back the minute I landed,” Cowell told ExtraTV. “It hurt — a lot.”

The crash left him with a broken back, requiring six hours of emergency surgery and a metal rod implanted to stabilize his spine. Though he shared a calm message on social media afterward, the reality was far more frightening.

“You probably won’t walk again”

Cowell said his surgeon didn’t sugarcoat the situation. When he saw the X-ray, the news was grim.

“[The doctor] said, ‘I don’t know if I can fix this… you probably won’t walk.’ That moment hit me hard,” Cowell recalled in a May 2025 interview on the podcast How to Fail with Elizabeth Day.

Even though he could move his fingers and toes, Cowell quickly realized the risk he faced. “All I kept thinking about was my family. That’s when you understand — your health is everything.”

Recovery was painful — and personal

Despite doctors advising him to rest, Cowell insisted on getting up almost immediately. Just two days after surgery, he tried to walk.

He admits it wasn’t just the pain that was hard — it was the feeling of helplessness, especially in front of his young son, Eric.

“I was so embarrassed. I looked like I was 100 years old. I said to Lauren [his fiancée], ‘How do I explain this to Eric?’” Cowell said. “Then he came in and said, ‘Daddy, you’re like Ironman.’ That moment meant everything to me.”

The healing process took nearly a year. Cowell faced intense physical therapy and had to push through both pain and self-doubt. But with time, determination, and support from his family, he made a full recovery.

“I actually feel better than I did before the accident”

Looking back now, Cowell says the accident gave him a new outlook.

“I’ve got to be honest — it wasn’t that bad breaking your back,” he joked to People magazine. “It forced me to exercise more, and now I feel better than I did before.”

In fact, he says the experience reminded him to slow down and not take his health for granted. “Don’t do stupid things,” he laughed. “Read the manual next time!”

“I made a promise to myself — I’d come back fitter than before. And I did,” Cowell said.

Whether you admire him for his music empire or his tough love as a talent judge, one thing’s clear: Simon Cowell may have been knocked down, but he’s standing stronger than ever.

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