Simon Cowell: Celebrities throng 50th birthday bash

Simon Cowell: Celebrities throng 50th birthday bash

The American Idol judge and X Factor boss - Simon Cowell celebrated his 50th birthday on Saturday night with a host of A-list friends and family.

The celebration took months of planning and was co-ordinated by retail king Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina. And, Cowell had spared no expense on ‘the party of the decade’ for four hunded guests at Wrotham Park, a stately manor in Barnet, Hertfordshire.

The £1million VIP party included walls adorned with giant portraits of Cowell and projections of Simon throughout the years were shown outside.

And, his brother Nicholas made a heartfelt speech!

Pre-recorded birthday wishes from the likes of the Beckhams and Jennifer Aniston were displayed on giant screens – even in the toilets. The venue was also lit with hundreds of scented candles.

Cowell hired a fleet of limousines that ferried the A-listers to the venue for a cocktail reception, at a cost of £50,000. The Frank Sinatra fan had also arranged for three Rat Pack impersonators flown over from America to sing throughout the evening.

The guests included  Naomi Campbell, Ant and Dec, Il Divo, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne , Leona Lewis, Westlife , Alexandra Burke, Kelly Brook, Amanda Holden, Sir Alan Sugar, Gordon and Tana Ramsay and Paula Abdul .

X Factor judges including Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest were also due to be there. Several A-list stars including Sir Elton John and Jennifer Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony and the singer Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon were invited but were unable to attend. Miss Carey, who is said to be keen to work with Cowell, sent an £850 bottle of Angel Champagne, which was presented to him at the top table. Unfortunately, Susan Boyle was also unable to go as she was in Scotland with her family.

While Simon's brother gifted him a £25,000 white gold watch made by Dent, who built the Big Ben clock, publicist Max Clifford bought an £80,000 miniature sculpture of Simon’s idol Frank Sinatra, by artist Willard Wigan.

But, Cowell's close confidante Max Clifford said: “He’d loved the night I’m sure, but he’d have prefered a low-key dinner with his 82-year-old mother, Julie and the rest of his family.”