Simon Robert Fuller (born 17 May 1960) is a British entrepreneur, artist manager, and film and television producer.^[1] He is the creator of the Idols TV format, including the UK series Pop Idol and the US series American Idol.

Since 2020, Fuller has been working with tech firm TikTok to aid development of new TikTok creatives^[2] and in the same year he announced a partnership with Verizon Communications to develop 5G content.^[3] In 2021 Pearson PLC announced a partnership with Simon Fuller to create a new global education business in Performing Arts.^[4] In 2016, Simon Fuller persuaded Swedish quartet ABBA to reunite to explore working in virtual reality,^[5] which led to the ABBA Voyage project.^[6]

Time has named Fuller one of the 100 most influential people in the world.^[7] He has been certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard.^[8] Fuller received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 23 May 2011.^[9] In 2014 he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Brighton in his home county East Sussex in recognition for his "contribution to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy". The 2020 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Fuller's wealth at £445 million.^[10]

Fuller was born on 17 May 1960 in British Cyprus,^[11] though later the family moved to Accra, Ghana where his father was the headmaster of the British Military School, Burma Camp. The family moved back to Hastings, East Sussex, where Simon's father became headmaster of the school he attended.^[12] He has two brothers, Kim and Mark.

Fuller began his career in 1981 at Chrysalis Music Limited in the UK,^[13] where he signed Madonna's first hit 'Holiday' to the company. He started his own management company in London in 1985, 19 Entertainment,^[14] eventually selling the business to CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth over $200 million in March 2005.^[15] In 2008 the company delivered a profit of $92.5 million (£66m) into the parent company.^[16] Fuller became a director of CKX, a position which gave him creative control over all of CKX's assets including the Elvis Presley Estate, Muhammad Ali's business interests, and other rights properties, until January 2010 when he started a new firm, XIX Entertainment, while continuing to work with CKX/19 as a consultant and executive producer.^[17] XIX Entertainment was given a valuation of $100 million and is run from offices in London and Los Angeles.^[18][19]

In February 2008, Fuller was presented with the PGA Award by the Producers Guild of America in Hollywood. At the event he was praised for his creativity, entrepreneurship, and charity work by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and current King Charles III, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time, who also thanked Fuller for his support of the Prince's charity The Prince's Trust.

Fuller came to prominence in the 1990s for managing the pop group the Spice Girls.^[35] He has managed acts including Victoria Beckham, Annie Lennox, S Club 7, Now United, Steven Tyler, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Will Young, Emma Bunton, Any Gabrielly, The Future X, Lisa Marie Presley and many more in addition to sports icons Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray.^[36]

In 2008, Fuller was certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard magazine.^[8] He has managed the career of Annie Lennox since the release of her multi platinum album Diva in 1991.^[37] He has managed hit songwriters and producers, including Cathy Dennis, who first met Fuller as the singer of D Mob in the 1980s. Under Fuller's guidance, Dennis became the UK's No. 1 female songwriter with a string of hits for artists including Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pink, Will Young, and others.^[38]

Fuller managed the Spice Girls through the peak of their 1990s success and he remains in partnership with the five girls today.^[39][40] Under Fuller's guidance, the Spice Girls became a marketing phenomenon, rose to chart topper status worldwide and went on to sell over 85 million records.^[41][42] In 2002, Fuller's company discovered 19-year-old Amy Winehouse, produced her first award-winning album Frank and signed her to Universal Music.^[37]

In 2005, 2006, and 2007, the biggest selling music acts in North America (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Daughtry) were all managed by Fuller.^[43] In October 2016, Fuller announced a joint venture with the 4 original members of the Swedish supergroup ABBA to create a new digital ABBA;^[44] In August 2020, BBC News announced that Fuller had signed an exclusive agreement with tech firm TikTok to create a new TikTok supergroup.^[45]

Fuller owns significant stakes in several British fashion businesses including Victoria Beckham Ltd. In 2006, Fuller brokered the deal for 19 Entertainment to purchase a majority share in Storm Model Management. In 2008, after assembling a highly qualified creative team Fuller launched the Victoria Beckham dress collection at New York Fashion Week. Since then Victoria Beckham Limited has grown to become a best selling high-end fashion brand, stocked in over 400 outlets around the world and winning Brand of The Year at the 2012 and 2014 British Fashion Awards. In 2012, Fuller accompanied Victoria Beckham to launch the business in China.^[46]

In February 2012, XIX Entertainment launched a David Beckham bodywear range in 2,500 H&M stores around the world.^[47] This was followed in 2015 when Fuller announced a joint venture with Hong Kong-based Global Brands Group Holding Ltd (787) giving Fuller and Beckham ownership of their own apparel business specifically to develop the David Beckham brand and other consumer products.^[48] The first result of this partnership was the Fall 2016 re-launch of the British heritage menswear label Kent & Curwen, which under Beckham, Fuller and 7 Global ownership currently runs 113 stores in 51 cities worldwide.^[49] In 2019, US media reported that Fuller sold 33% share of David Beckham business for $50 million after generating revenue of $72.4 million and a profit of $16 million for fiscal 2017.^[50]

In 2003, Fuller formed a joint venture partnership with British footballer David Beckham and went onto build a diverse range of business interests in sport, leisure, fashion and entertainment over a period of 16 years that became known as Brand Beckham.^[51][52] In 2006 Fuller took on representation of the England soccer team at Beckham's suggestion^[53] and the following year Fuller negotiated his five year contract for Beckham to join LA Galaxy.^[54] In 2013, Fuller and Beckham discussed plans to buy an MLS football team in Miami ^[55] with Beckham thanking Fuller in an interview with CNN: “When I signed my contract my manager Simon Fuller actually got a clause in the contract that enabled me to have a franchise at the end of my playing career”.^[56]

Later in the same year Fuller and Beckham launched a new global whisky in partnership with British drinks company Diageo.^[57] Fuller's plan to deliver Beckham's ownership of an MLS team was announced in January 2018 when Miami was confirmed as 25th MLS team.^[58][59] The Financial Times reported that Fuller sold his interests in David Beckham's business in 2019 for a reported £50m.^[60]

In 2009, Fuller took on personal representation of British No.1 tennis player Andy Murray,^[61] representing him during his US Open and Wimbledon wins and later helping the player to establish his own business. In March 2011, Fuller was announced as the manager of British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton^[62] and surprised many when he moved Hamilton from McLaren and signed him to a long-term contract with the MercedesAMG team. Hamilton won the 2014 F1 World Championship and publicly thanked Fuller for his support.^[63]

Fuller married his long-term partner Natalie Swanston in May 2008, and they have three children.^[64]

He has a portfolio of real estate including properties in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2014, Fuller was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Brighton in recognition for his "contribution to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy".^[65]

• 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year Britweek Award^[66]
• 2016 Governor's Award Creative Arts Emmy^[67]
• 2014 Honorary Degree, University of Brighton^[68]
• 2011 Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame^[69]
• 2007 Top Trend Setter, Forbes Magazine^[70]