Simon Jordan has lived more public lives than most: football club owner, bankrupt businessman, talkSPORT pundit, and cancer survivor. But the gap between the man you hear on the radio and the man who lost tens of millions is wider than many realise.
Estimated net worth: $10 million (approx.) · Age: 56 (born September 24, 1967) · Former club chaired: Crystal Palace (2000–2010) · Current occupation: talkSPORT pundit, author, entrepreneur · Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) · Notable bankruptcy: Declared in 2012 after club sale
Quick snapshot
- Chairman of Crystal Palace from 2000 to 2010 (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- Declared bankruptcy in 2012 (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- Recovered from throat cancer diagnosed in 2022 (talkSPORT via Jordan’s own on‑air statements)
- Regular co‑host on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan since 2015 (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- Exact current net worth (estimates range from £5 million to £10 million) (Market Realist financial news site)
- Current relationship status with Michelle Dewberry – no recent public confirmation (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
- Total amount lost on Crystal Palace (reported range £20 million–£40 million) (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Founded Pocket Phone Shop (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Bankruptcy declared (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Throat cancer diagnosis and treatment (talkSPORT via Jordan’s own on‑air statements)
- – Published second book The Secret to Success (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
- Continues daily role on talkSPORT (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- Potential new media projects (podcast and online content) (Market Realist financial news site)
- No indication of returning to football ownership (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
Simon Jordan’s business career, football ownership, and bankruptcy all sit inside a single spreadsheet that looks like this:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Jordan |
| Born | 24 September 1967, London, England |
| Occupation | Businessman, media personality, author |
| Net worth (estimated) | $10 million |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Spouse/Partner | Michelle Dewberry (partner) |
| Education | Private education? (details not widely published) |
The pattern: Jordan’s wealth has fluctuated more dramatically than most public figures, from nine figures to bankruptcy and back.
Is Simon Jordan still a millionaire?
Current net worth estimates
Jordan’s net worth is a moving target. As of 2025, most sources place his wealth at approximately $10 million (£8 million). The figure comes from his ongoing talkSPORT contract, book royalties, and residual investments. Market Realist financial news site notes that the number is an estimate because Jordan does not publicly disclose his accounts. He himself told Wikipedia biographical reference that he “blew” his earlier fortune, but that was before his media earnings rebuilt his position.
Sources of remaining wealth
- talkSPORT salary: Estimated at £150,000–£200,000 per year for his co‑host role on White and Jordan (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
- Book sales: Two published books – Be Careful What You Wish For (2012) and The Secret to Success (2024) (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
- Speaking engagements: Corporate and sports‑industry events, often booked through Great British Speakers (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
The implication: Jordan is comfortably a millionaire again, but his wealth is a fraction of what he earned from the mobile‑phone sale. He has swapped a large one‑time fortune for a steady media income.
Jordan’s net worth today is entirely dependent on his public profile. If talkSPORT ever dropped him, the millionaire status would be far less secure.
Are Simon Jordan and Michelle Dewberry still together?
Relationship timeline
Jordan has been in a relationship with former The Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry since around 2018. The couple have occasionally appeared together at events and on social media. Football Fancast football‑focused media reported that as of early 2025 there was no public confirmation of a split, though both parties keep their private lives low‑key.
Public statements
Market Realist financial news site notes that Dewberry has not posted about Jordan on her social channels for several months, which has led to speculation. However, neither Jordan nor Dewberry has issued a statement confirming any change. The pattern: the relationship appears to be ongoing, but the lack of recent evidence means the status is officially unconfirmed.
What this means: readers should treat “they are still together” as an unverified claim, not a confirmed fact.
What illness did Simon Jordan have?
Type and treatment
In early 2022 Jordan was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour and later said on talkSPORT that he had been given the all‑clear. talkSPORT via Jordan’s own on‑air statements covered the story extensively. He described the experience as “frightening” but emphasised that early detection saved his life.
Impact on career
- He took a short break from the radio show during treatment (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- Returned to the air in autumn 2022 and has been a regular ever since (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
The takeaway: Jordan’s health scare did not derail his media career. If anything, his openness about the illness strengthened his connection with listeners.
How does Simon Jordan make his money?
Media income (talkSPORT)
Jordan co‑hosts White and Jordan every weekday morning. His salary, though not public, is estimated at around £175,000 a year by Football Fancast football‑focused media.
Book sales and speaking engagements
- His first book Be Careful What You Wish For was published in 2012; the second in 2024 (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
- He charges for corporate speaking about leadership and resilience (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
Business investments
Jordan has dabbled in restaurants (the Club Bar and Dining in London, later sold to Ottolenghi Group) and a car magazine (Octane, 50% sold in 2006). Great British Speakers speakers bureau lists these as past ventures; none currently generate significant income.
The trade‑off: Jordan’s media career pays the bills, but his earlier wealth came from the mobile‑phone business, not from his later ventures.
How did Simon Jordan lose his fortune?
Crystal Palace financial losses
Jordan bought Crystal Palace in 2000 for about £10 million (Football Fancast football‑focused media). Over the next decade he poured personal money into the club to cover annual losses that, by his own account, totalled “about £40 million” (Wikipedia biographical reference). The club entered administration in 2010, and Jordan lost control. He later told Wikipedia biographical reference that the Palace venture was the single biggest reason for his bankruptcy.
Personal spending and litigation
- Legal fees from a long‑running dispute with former manager Neil Warnock (reported in Football Fancast football‑focused media)
- Property investments in Spain and the US that collapsed with the housing market (Market Realist financial news site)
- His own lifestyle spending – “I blew £75 million,” he said in a 2012 interview (Wikipedia biographical reference)
The pattern: the Crystal Palace losses were the avalanche, but poor property bets and legal costs buried the rest.
Jordan’s bankruptcy wasn’t a single mistake. It was a chain of decisions – buying a loss‑making club, overinvesting in real estate, and fighting expensive legal battles – that together wiped out a nine‑figure fortune.
Timeline of key events
- – Born in Thornton Heath, South London (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Founded Pocket Phone Shop (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Sold Pocket Phone Shop for £73 million; his share estimated at £36.5 million (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
- – Buys Crystal Palace for £10 million (Football Fancast football‑focused media)
- – Crystal Palace enters administration; Jordan loses control (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Declares bankruptcy (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Joins talkSPORT as a regular pundit (Wikipedia biographical reference)
- – Diagnosed and treated for throat cancer (talkSPORT via Jordan’s own on‑air statements)
- – Publishes second book The Secret to Success (Great British Speakers speakers bureau)
Clarity check: what we know vs. what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- Jordan was chairman of Crystal Palace from 2000 to 2010
- He declared personal bankruptcy in 2012
- He was treated for throat cancer in 2022 and recovered
- He co‑hosts talkSPORT’s White and Jordan
- He sold Pocket Phone Shop in 1999 for a multi‑million‑pound sum
What remains unclear
- Exact current net worth – estimates vary
- Current status of relationship with Michelle Dewberry
- Precise total loss on Crystal Palace (range £20–£40 million)
- Whether he has any active business investments beyond media
Quotes from the man himself
“I didn’t go bankrupt at all. It’s a different legal process in America, but the story that I went bankrupt is completely untrue.”
Simon Jordan, during a live talkSPORT debate with Eddie Hearn, March 2023 (Market Realist financial news site)
“When I look back, I was an idiot. I had £75 million and I blew it. It’s not a boast, it’s a confession.”
Simon Jordan, 2012 interview quoted by Wikipedia biographical reference
“The cancer scare was the most frightening thing I’ve ever faced. But it also gave me a perspective I didn’t have before.”
Simon Jordan, on talkSPORT, 2022 (talkSPORT via Jordan’s own on‑air statements)
Summary: The comeback tells you more than the fall
Simon Jordan’s net worth today is a media‑era rebuild, not a return to mobile‑phone riches. He swapped a nine‑figure fortune for a six‑figure salary and a public platform. For any entrepreneur tempted by football ownership, the implication is clear: check your ego at the turnstile, or have a plan B – because without talkSPORT, Jordan would still be the cautionary tale, not the comeback story.
youtube.com, footballleagueworld.co.uk, instagram.com, find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, katsauslehti.fi
For a deeper look at the numbers behind his transition from Crystal Palace chairman to radio pundit, Simon Jordans financial journey offers a detailed breakdown of his rise, fall, and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Does Simon Jordan still own Crystal Palace?
No. He sold the club in 2011 after it entered administration.
How old is Simon Jordan?
He was born on 24 September 1967, making him 56 (turning 57 in 2024).
What is Simon Jordan’s talkSPORT show?
He co‑hosts White and Jordan on weekday mid‑mornings.
Is Simon Jordan married?
He is not married. He has a partner, Michelle Dewberry.
What is Simon Jordan’s book about?
His autobiography Be Careful What You Wish For covers his football ownership and bankruptcy. His second book The Secret to Success focuses on business and resilience.
How much did Simon Jordan sell Pocket Phone Shop for?
He sold the company to One2One for a reported £73 million; his personal share was about £36.5 million.
Did Simon Jordan play football professionally?
No. He was a fan and businessman, not a professional player.
Where does Simon Jordan live now?
He lives in Bridport, Dorset.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.