The Billionaire Who Waited: Unmasking Martha Stewart's 'Boyfriend Of 15 Years' And His Shocking Life After Her Prison Sentence

The question of who Martha Stewart dated for 15 years—a relationship that famously spanned her time in federal prison—has captivated fans and media for years. This long-term partner was not a Hollywood actor or a media mogul, but a pioneering tech billionaire whose life post-Stewart became as extraordinary as his career. As of late 2024, Martha Stewart remains single, but the story of her most enduring post-divorce relationship is a fascinating tale of power, prison, and space travel.

The man in question is Charles Simonyi, a Hungarian-American software architect whose genius laid the foundation for some of the world's most-used computer programs. Their on-again, off-again romance began in the early 1990s and lasted until 2008, a 15-year commitment that Martha Stewart herself later referred to as her "second divorce." This deep dive uncovers the full, unique life of the man who stood by the lifestyle icon for a decade and a half.

Charles Simonyi: Full Biography and Profile of the Microsoft Pioneer

Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian-American software architect and billionaire best known for his foundational work at Microsoft, where he developed the core applications that became the Microsoft Office suite. His life is a true rags-to-riches story, marked by extraordinary technological and personal achievements.

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• Full Name: Charles Simonyi (born Károly Simonyi)
• Born: September 10, 1948, in Budapest, Hungary
• Age: 77 (as of late 2025)
• Education: B.S. in Engineering Mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University.
• Career Highlights:
  • Worked at Xerox PARC on the first WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) text editor.
  • Joined Microsoft in 1981 and became one of its earliest and most influential architects.
  • Led the development of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
  • Coined the term "Hungarian Notation" for variable naming conventions.
  • Founded Intentional Software in 2002, which was later acquired by Microsoft in 2017.
• Net Worth: Estimated to be between $5 billion and $8 billion (Varies by source, as of 2024).
• Marital Status: Married to Lisa Persdotter (since 2008).
• Children: Two daughters with Lisa Persdotter.
• Notable Achievements: The only private citizen to pay for two separate flights to the International Space Station (ISS) as a space tourist (2007 and 2009).

The 15-Year Romance: How Charles Simonyi Stood By Martha Stewart

The relationship between Martha Stewart and Charles Simonyi began after the end of her 30-year marriage to publisher Andrew Stewart in 1990. Simonyi, a fellow billionaire with a keen intellect, formed a friendship with Martha in the early 1990s, and their romance blossomed soon after. Their relationship was characterized by a shared passion for art, collecting, and high-level intellectual pursuits, with Simonyi often described as a "total genius" by Stewart.

The Relationship That Survived Federal Prison

One of the most unique and telling aspects of their 15-year relationship was its endurance through Martha Stewart’s darkest period: her five-month confinement in a federal prison in 2004-2005. While many relationships crumble under such pressure, Simonyi remained a supportive figure. He would famously fly Martha's daughter, Alexis, in his private jet to visit her mother during her incarceration. He was one of the few people who continued to visit Stewart at the facility, demonstrating a deep level of loyalty and commitment that spoke volumes about their bond.

However, the separation and the stress of the trial reportedly took a toll. A documentary revealed that the relationship did not survive long after her release, with the pair splitting up for good around 2008. Stewart later reflected on the breakup, equating the pain of the split to her "second divorce," highlighting the profound significance Simonyi had in her life.

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Charles Simonyi's Shocking Life After Martha Stewart

Following the end of his relationship with Martha Stewart in 2008, Charles Simonyi's life took a dramatic and surprising turn, marking a new chapter of professional and personal fulfillment.

Marriage and Family Life

Just months after the final split from Stewart, Simonyi married Lisa Persdotter, the daughter of a Swedish billionaire, in November 2008. The couple went on to have two children together, settling into a family life that Simonyi had not experienced during his time with Stewart. He and Persdotter remain married today, a testament to the new path his personal life took after the long-term, non-marital relationship with the lifestyle guru ended.

The Billionaire Space Tourist

Perhaps the most extraordinary detail of Simonyi's life is his status as a two-time space tourist. In 2007, while still technically in the long-term relationship with Stewart, he paid a reported $25 million to fly aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). This made him the fifth self-funded space tourist in history.

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He didn't stop there. In 2009, after his breakup and marriage to Lisa Persdotter, Simonyi paid for a second trip to the ISS, making him the only private citizen to date to have paid for two separate orbital space flights. His missions were not just for pleasure; he conducted scientific experiments, assisted with ISS research, and aimed to inspire young people in science and space exploration.

This post-Stewart era of his life cemented Simonyi’s legacy not just as a software pioneer, but as a modern-day explorer, proving that his ambitions extended far beyond the realm of technology and high-profile dating.

Martha Stewart's Current Relationship Status and Dating Perspective

While Charles Simonyi found new love and started a family, Martha Stewart has embraced her single status. As of her latest public comments in 2024, the 84-year-old icon is "not dating anybody special." She has openly discussed receiving attention and having people slide into her DMs, but she seems content focusing on her career, friends, and business empire.

In a 2023 interview, Stewart humorously stated that she wasn't planning to "take care" of anyone, suggesting she is prioritizing her own thriving life over a serious commitment. Her dating history, which also includes a brief but high-profile relationship with actor Anthony Hopkins, shows a pattern of dating successful and brilliant men. However, the 15-year bond with Charles Simonyi remains her most significant post-divorce relationship, a testament to a connection that weathered professional storms but ultimately could not survive the personal shifts that followed.