The game producers have not officially established Ghost's age, as the character never openly acknowledges it. However, fans believe that Ghost is in his mid to late twenties and this is due to Ghost's Lieutenant rank in MW2. This is the average age of army troops in this rank.

Simon Riley was born in Manchester, England to unnamed parents and a older brother named Tommy, who would often scare him when he slept. While working as an apprentice butcher, Simon saw the 9/11 attacks and joined the British military, and later became a member of the Special Air Service.