Martha Stewart recently shared candid insights into various aspects of her life in her Netflix documentary, including her relationship with billionaire businessman Charles Simonyi. At 83, Stewart recounted her 15-year romance with Simonyi, who is 76, which began post her divorce from Andrew Stewart. Their relationship endured even when Stewart served 150 days in jail in 2004 for charges involving conspiracy and obstruction of justice. However, their bond crumbled in 2008 when Simonyi left Stewart for another woman—a scenario reminiscent of her previous relationship with Andrew.

In her documentary “Martha,” Stewart described Simonyi as a “total genius” and reflected on the unique lifestyle she experienced while dating the businessman. To learn more about Martha Stewart’s ex-boyfriend, read on for a comprehensive overview of Charles Simonyi.

Simonyi was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, with a father who was a physicist and a mother who taught languages, as detailed in a 2006 profile by the Seattle Times. At 17, Simonyi moved to Denmark on a short-term visa to work as a programmer before relocating to the United States. He pursued studies in math and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and later earned a doctorate in computer science from Stanford University. Simonyi became a U.S. citizen in 1982.

Simonyi joined Microsoft in 1981, just six years after its founding by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. As Microsoft’s 40th employee, he played a pivotal role in developing Microsoft Word and Excel, eventually becoming one of the company’s top developers and serving as chief architect for 12 years. In 2002, Simonyi left Microsoft to co-found Intentional Software Corporation, which focused on productivity app platforms. He returned to Microsoft in 2017 when the company acquired his firm, though the financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed.

According to Forbes, Simonyi became a billionaire in 2015, with a net worth of $7.3 billion as of November 2024, ranking him 398th among the world’s richest billionaires. Simonyi and Stewart became friends in the early 1990s, a period marked by Stewart’s divorce from Andrew after nearly 30 years of marriage. Their relationship, which included a daughter named Alexis, ended due to Andrew’s affair with Stewart’s ex-assistant.

Stewart and Simonyi were rumored to have started dating in 1993, with Simonyi publicly acknowledging their relationship in 1997. They attended several high-profile events together, including a dinner for the Hungarian president at the White House and film producer Joel Silver’s wedding in Italy. Stewart noted in her documentary that their relationship involved extensive travel and shared projects, such as building a boat in Germany.

Simonyi stood by Stewart during her highly publicized trial and subsequent imprisonment. Despite his support, he only visited her once in prison, a fact Stewart mentioned in her documentary. After her release in 2005, their relationship continued for another three years.

Simonyi, who had childhood dreams of space travel, realized his ambition in April 2007 when he embarked on his first of two space missions. Stewart supported his endeavors, even traveling to Kazakhstan to witness his launch. Simonyi’s second space trip occurred in March 2009.

Stewart detailed in her documentary how Simonyi ended their relationship in 2008, announcing his intention to marry Lisa Persdotter, who was 32 years his junior. Simonyi and Persdotter married in November 2008 and had two daughters together. Stewart reflected on her difficulty in expressing emotions in relationships, noting her preference for focusing on actions and accomplishments over feelings.

“Martha” is currently streaming on Netflix.

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