Simon Jordan – Net Worth, Crystal Palace, and Media Career
Simon Jordan built a fortune in mobile phones, bought and lost a football club, and reinvented himself as one of Britain’s most listened‑to sports radio hosts. His story is one of spectacular highs, painful losses, and a blunt public persona that keeps audiences tuning in. But much about his personal finances and background remains unclear.
Jordan first made headlines in 2000 when, at age 32, he became the youngest‑ever chairman of a Football League club after purchasing Crystal Palace. Before that, he had already made a multimillion‑pound fortune from a chain of mobile phone stores. Today he co‑hosts a flagship talkSPORT show, writes a column for the Daily Mail, and has published two books.
Despite his high profile, key details about his net worth, education, and height are either disputed or simply not recorded. This article separates what is established from what remains speculative.
What is Simon Jordan’s net worth?
Unconfirmed: estimates range from $5 million to $100 million
Former Crystal Palace chairman (2000‑2010)
Co‑host of White & Jordan on talkSPORT
Published Be Careful What You Wish For (2012)
- Simon Jordan built his wealth in the mobile phone industry before becoming a football club owner.
- He owned Crystal Palace during a turbulent period but remains a respected pundit.
- His talkSPORT show is one of the most listened‑to midday radio programs in the UK.
- He is frequently mistaken for a footballer due to his football involvement, but he never played professionally.
- His book details his business failures and lessons learned.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simon Jordan |
| Born | 24 September 1967 (age 58 in 2026) |
| Birthplace | Thornton Heath, South London, England |
| Education | Purley High School for Boys |
| Occupation | Businessman, media personality, author |
| Known For | Former chairman of Crystal Palace FC, talkSPORT co‑host |
| Partner | Michelle Dewberry (not a wife; two children) |
| Net Worth | Unconfirmed: estimates from $5M to $100M; annual income believed ≥$11M |
| Height | Not publicly reported |
Jordan’s wealth peaked at £75 million after selling Pocket Phone Shop in 2000. He later lost much of that fortune through Crystal Palace’s financial demands, a lavish lifestyle, and other business ventures. Market Realist and Football FanCast both note the wide range of estimates and the lack of an official figure. According to Football FanCast, his current annual income from talkSPORT, columns, and other ventures is believed to be at least £8.75 million ($11 million).
What was Simon Jordan’s role at Crystal Palace?
Jordan purchased Crystal Palace Football Club in 2000 for £30 million. At 32, he was the youngest chairman in the Football League at the time. He oversaw the club during a period that included promotion to the Premier League, administration, and eventual sale in 2010. His tenure was marked by significant personal financial losses.
When did Simon Jordan own Crystal Palace?
He owned the club from 2000 to 2010. During that decade, Palace went through administration twice and was relegated from the Premier League after one season. Jordan later admitted that the club cost him between £40 million and £56 million.
How long was Simon Jordan chairman of Crystal Palace?
He served as chairman for exactly ten years, stepping down after selling the club to a consortium led by CPFC 2010 in June 2010.
Jordan has stated publicly that owning Crystal Palace cost him at least £40 million of his personal fortune. In a 2012 interview, he described the experience as “blowing £75 million.” The club’s financial struggles and his own spending led to a dramatic reduction in his wealth.
For a deeper look at another football figure who transitioned into media, read Graeme Souness – Biography, Career Trophies and Galatasaray Flag Incident.
What is Simon Jordan’s role on talkSPORT?
Since 2015, Jordan has been a regular on talkSPORT. He now co‑hosts the station’s flagship midday programme White & Jordan alongside Jim White. The show reaches around 1.1 million listeners weekly and is one of the most popular sports‑talk broadcasts in the UK.
Who does Simon Jordan co‑host with on talkSPORT?
His co‑host is Jim White, a veteran broadcaster. The pair also present a podcast called Outspoken With White & Jordan. Jordan’s direct, often controversial opinions have made him a key draw for the programme.
What time is White and Jordan on talkSPORT?
The show airs weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm. Jordan also appears as a columnist for the Daily Mail, writing on football and business topics.
His talkSPORT profile describes him as a “former Crystal Palace chairman and businessman” and lists his co‑host role. The station’s official page provides a brief biography and links to his recent articles.
What book has Simon Jordan written?
Jordan’s autobiography, Be Careful What You Wish For, was published in 2012. The book details his rise from mobile phone entrepreneur to football club owner and the financial collapse that followed. It was described by reviewers as a candid account of failure and resilience.
A second book, The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Football, was released in 2025. It expands on his views on the modern football industry.
Despite his deep involvement in football, Jordan never played the sport professionally. His background is in business, not sport. This confusion is common because of his high‑profile role as a club chairman and later as a pundit.
Who is Simon Jordan’s wife?
Simon Jordan is not married. His long‑term partner is Michelle Dewberry, a former winner of The Apprentice. The couple have two children together. Jordan keeps details of his personal life relatively private, and Dewberry is not often in the public eye despite her own media career.
Is Simon Jordan married?
No. He has been in a relationship with Michelle Dewberry since around 2017, but they have not married. Earlier reports suggesting a wife are unconfirmed; the most reliable sources state he is unmarried.
Is Simon Jordan a footballer?
No. Simon Jordan has never played professional football. The confusion likely arises because of his surname, his prominent role as a football club chairman, and his daily presence on a sports‑talk show. His entire career has been in business and media.
He is often asked this question, and he has addressed it directly in interviews and on his talkSPORT show.
How did Simon Jordan’s career unfold over the years?
- 1967 — Born in Thornton Heath, South London.
- 1994 — Co‑founded Pocket Phone Shop, a mobile phone retailer, with Andrew Briggs.
- 2000 — Sold Pocket Phone Shop to One2One (later T‑Mobile) for £73 million, netting Jordan £36.5 million.
- 2000 — Bought Crystal Palace FC for £30 million, becoming the youngest Football League chairman at age 32.
- 2002 — Co‑founded car magazine Octane.
- 2005 — Acted as a film investor, including the production of Sweeney Todd.
- 2006 — Opened Club Bar and Dining restaurant.
- 2010 — Sold Crystal Palace after the club went into administration.
- 2012 — Published autobiography Be Careful What You Wish For.
- 2015 — Began regular appearances on talkSPORT.
- 2025 — Published second book, The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Football; continues as talkSPORT co‑host.
What is known and what remains uncertain about Simon Jordan’s life?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| He is a businessman, not a professional footballer. | Exact net worth figures vary widely; no official disclosure exists. |
| He was chairman of Crystal Palace from 2000 to 2010. | Height is not reliably published. |
| He co‑hosts a show on talkSPORT with Jim White. | Details about his education beyond Purley High School for Boys are scarce. |
What is the broader context of Simon Jordan’s career?
Jordan’s career illustrates a rare transition: from mobile phone retail to football club ownership to media personality. His business acumen in the 1990s put him among the first wave of entrepreneurs to capitalise on the mobile phone boom. The sale of Pocket Phone Shop gave him the capital to buy a football club, but the costs of running it — combined with a lavish lifestyle and other failed ventures — depleted most of his fortune.
His outspoken style on talkSPORT has driven high ratings. The show’s success has allowed him to rebuild his income and public profile. His books explore the lessons from his financial collapse and his views on the modern game.
Sources and notable quotes
Key sources used in this article include Simon Jordan – Wikipedia (biographical foundation), Simon Jordan on talkSPORT (current media role), Simon Jordan on X (Twitter) (self‑description), Simon Jordan at Talent4Media (mobile phone business background), Up Front with Simon Jordan (YouTube), and market reports from Market Realist.
“I made my money in mobile phones, then I made a mess of it at Crystal Palace.”
— Simon Jordan, paraphrased from multiple interviews
“I want people to know the real story, not the myth.”
— Simon Jordan, on his book Be Careful What You Wish For
What does the future hold for Simon Jordan?
Jordan shows no sign of leaving radio. His talkSPORT show continues to attract a large audience, and he remains a frequent commentator on football and business. A second book was published in 2025, and he has hinted at possible television work. Whether he returns to football club ownership is uncertain, but he has not ruled it out.
For another footballer who built a media career, see Danny Welbeck – Full Career Profile and 2025 Update.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Simon Jordan’s height?
No official height has been published. He appears average height, but the exact figure is unknown.
What is Simon Jordan’s educational background?
He attended Purley High School for Boys. No further formal education is widely reported; he left school early to start his business career.
How did Simon Jordan make his money?
He co‑founded and sold Pocket Phone Shop, a chain of mobile phone retail stores, in the late 1990s. The sale netted him £36.5 million.
When did Simon Jordan own Crystal Palace?
He owned the club from 2000 to 2010, during which the club went through administration and relegation.
What is Simon Jordan’s talkSPORT show?
He co‑hosts White & Jordan with Jim White, weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm. The show has a weekly reach of about 1.1 million listeners.
Is Simon Jordan married?
No. His long‑term partner is Michelle Dewberry, and they have two children together. He is not married.
Is Simon Jordan a footballer?
No. He never played professional football. He is a businessman and media personality.
How old is Simon Jordan?
He was born on 24 September 1967, making him 58 years old as of 2026.
What books has Simon Jordan written?
He wrote Be Careful What You Wish For (2012) and The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Football (2025).
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