Simon Jordan: The £75m Fortune He Made and Then Lost
There are few characters in British football more divisive than Simon Jordan. To some, he is a visionary who took a struggling Crystal Palace to the Premier League and became the youngest chairman in Football League history. To others, he is a cautionary tale of hubris, a man who made a fortune in mobile phones, blew it all on a football club, and ended up bankrupt. Today, he is one of the most recognizable voices on TalkSPORT, a pundit who speaks with the authority of someone who has been there, done that, and lost the T-shirt. This is the story of Simon Jordan: the rise, the fall, and the comeback.
Quick Facts
Early Life
Simon Jordan was born on 24 September 1967. He attended Purley High School for Boys in Old Coulsdon. Football was his first love. He was an accomplished young player, signing schoolboy forms with both Chelsea and Crystal Palace. His father, Peter Jordan, had played for the Palace youth team, though he never made a first-team appearance.
Jordan has been characteristically honest about his footballing ability, describing himself as “good enough to be a professional, but mentally I wasn’t interested.” Chelsea released him when he was sixteen.
Career
The Mobile Phone Fortune
Jordan’s business career began in the late 1980s when a friend invited him to join a mobile phone business selling handsets via adverts in Loot and Exchange and Mart. The venture was short-lived. A subsequent business, Corporate Cellular Ltd, was “not considered to be a great success.”
In 1994, Jordan and Andrew Briggs set up their own mobile phone retail company: the Pocket Phone Shop. They started with just £30,000 and a 3,500 sq ft unit in Slough. The business flourished. By 2000, the Pocket Phone Shop had 208 outlets nationwide, employed 1,100 staff, and was forecasting a turnover of £102 million.
In June 2000, Jordan and Briggs sold the company to One2One in a deal worth a reported £73 million. Jordan’s share was £36.5 million.
Crystal Palace: The Dream and the Nightmare
Just days after selling his mobile phone business, Jordan purchased his boyhood club, Crystal Palace. Singapore businessman Jerry Lim had saved the club from administration and immediately sold it on to Jordan for a reported £11 million.
At 32, Jordan became the youngest chairman of a Football League club. He vowed to take the club to the Premier League within five years. He achieved it in four, with Palace winning promotion via the play-offs in 2004. They were relegated the following season.
Jordan did not own Selhurst Park; the ground belonged to former chairman Ron Noades. In 2006, Jordan secretly bought the freehold of Selhurst Park through a property company. He also ploughed an estimated £39 million into the club.
By July 2008, Jordan announced he planned to sell the club, stating he had “been disillusioned with football for a long time.” But he could not find a buyer. In early 2010, Crystal Palace entered administration. Jordan lost control of the club and, by his own later estimate, between £35 million and £50 million. In an interview in 2012, he admitted he had lost everything.
Other Business Ventures
Jordan’s business interests extended beyond football. In 2002, he co-founded the car magazine Octane, selling his 50% shareholding in 2006. In 2006, he opened the restaurant Club Bar and Dining in London’s Warwick Street, selling it in 2011. He also invested £2 million as a producer of the film Telstar.
Media Career
Jordan reinvented himself as a media personality. He is currently a co-presenter on TalkSPORT’s weekday mid-morning show, White and Jordan, alongside Jim White. He also hosts the podcast Outspoken with White and Jordan and has appeared on TalkBOXING. He is the author of a critically acclaimed autobiography, Be Careful What You Wish For.
Sheffield Wednesday Takeover Interest
In late 2025, Jordan confirmed he had considered putting together a bid to purchase Sheffield Wednesday. He assembled a consortium with proof of funds of up to £50 million but ultimately decided not to pursue the takeover.
Major Achievements
- Co-founded the Pocket Phone Shop: Built a mobile phone retail empire with 208 outlets and 1,100 staff
- Sold for £73 million: Pocket Phone Shop sold to One2One in 2000
- Youngest Football League chairman: Became chairman of Crystal Palace at 32
- Premier League promotion: Led Crystal Palace to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2004
- Author: Published Be Careful What You Wish For
- TalkSPORT presenter: Co-hosts White and Jordan on weekday mornings
Business Ventures
Jordan’s primary business success was the Pocket Phone Shop, which he co-founded in 1994 and sold in 2000 for £73 million.
He also co-founded Octane magazine in 2002, selling his stake in 2006. He opened the restaurant Club Bar and Dining in 2006 and sold it in 2011. He invested in film production through Aspiration Films and produced Telstar.
Public Image
Simon Jordan is a polarizing figure. To his admirers, he is a straight-talking businessman who speaks his mind and doesn’t suffer fools. To his critics, he is a man who lost a fortune through arrogance and poor decision-making.
He has been open about his financial mistakes. In a 2012 interview, he admitted he had lost his entire fortune. He has also spoken candidly about his battles with cancer, which he survived.
In March 2023, Eddie Hearn accused Jordan of filing for bankruptcy during a heated debate on TalkSPORT, though Jordan denied the claims.
Personal Life
Jordan has two children. He was previously in a relationship with Michelle Dewberry, a former Apprentice winner.
Net Worth (Estimated)
Publicly available estimates of Simon Jordan’s net worth vary considerably.
- Civic Insight (2026): Estimates his net worth at approximately $10 million.
- Kahawatungu (2023): Estimates his net worth at $5 million.
- OneFootball (2025/2026): Reports that Jordan once earned and then lost £75 million.
Sources differ on this point. Some outlets suggest he could be worth as little as $5 million** and as much as **$100 million. The reality is that his net worth has fluctuated dramatically throughout his life.
His financial journey can be summarized as follows:
- 2000: Earned £36.5 million from the sale of the Pocket Phone Shop.
- Peak: Built a fortune of around £75 million.
- 2010: Lost the vast majority of his wealth through his ownership of Crystal Palace, with estimated losses between £35 million and £50 million.
- Present: Rebuilt his career as a media personality, with estimates ranging from $5 million to $10 million.
Editor’s Note: Net worth figures are estimates compiled from publicly available sources and may vary depending on methodology. Late Magazine does not have access to private financial records and does not present these figures as confirmed or audited.
Interesting Facts
- Signed for Chelsea: Jordan signed schoolboy forms with Chelsea but was released at 16
- £30,000 start-up: He started the Pocket Phone Shop with just £30,000
- 1,100 employees: At its peak, the Pocket Phone Shop employed 1,100 staff
- Lost £35m–£50m: His estimated losses from Crystal Palace
- Cancer survivor: Jordan has survived cancer
- Nearly bought Sheffield Wednesday: He assembled a consortium with £50m in proof of funds in 2025
Legacy
Simon Jordan’s legacy is a complex one. He is the man who made a fortune, chased a dream, and lost it all. But he is also the man who picked himself up, rebuilt his career, and became one of the most respected voices in British sports media. His story is a reminder that success and failure are often two sides of the same coin. As he himself might say, be careful what you wish for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simon Jordan?
Simon Jordan is an English businessman and media personality. He is best known as the former owner of Crystal Palace Football Club and as a co-presenter on TalkSPORT.
What is Simon Jordan’s net worth?
Publicly available estimates vary. Some sources estimate his net worth at $5 million to $10 million, while others report that he once earned and lost £75 million. His net worth has fluctuated dramatically throughout his life.
How did Simon Jordan make his money?
He made his fortune in the mobile phone industry. He co-founded the Pocket Phone Shop in 1994 and sold it to One2One in 2000 for a reported £73 million, pocketing £36.5 million.
Why did Simon Jordan lose his money?
He lost the vast majority of his fortune through his ownership of Crystal Palace. The club went into administration in 2010, and Jordan later estimated his losses at between £35 million and £50 million.
Is Simon Jordan on TalkSPORT?
Yes. He is a co-presenter on the weekday mid-morning show White and Jordan, alongside Jim White.
Did Simon Jordan try to buy Sheffield Wednesday?
Yes. In late 2025, he confirmed he had considered a takeover bid and assembled a consortium with proof of funds of up to £50 million but ultimately decided not to proceed.
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