Simon Cowell has claimed that he will leave his vast fortune with charities when he dies.

The X Factor supremo has an estimated wealth of £225m but it seems he isn't keen on passing it down the family.

Cowell - who is due to become a father with new partner Lauren Silverman in a matter of months - told Esquire that he would rather donate his money to charity than pass it down to his children. He said:

"I'm going to leave my money to somebody. A charity, probably - kids and dogs. I don't believe in passing on from one generation to another. Your legacy has to be that hopefully you gave enough people an opportunity, so that they could do well, and you gave them your time, taught them what you know."

However, he won't be hanging up his boots anytime soon, with 53-year-old Cowell adding:

"A lot of people who retire, they hate their job so much, they just love the idea of not working any more. That horrifies me. I'm going to be still working in my 80s or 90s."