When we think of Martha Stewart, we usually picture perfectly crimped pie crusts, a sprawling farm in Bedford, or maybe her hilarious, weed-scented friendship with Snoop Dogg. We don’t really think of her as the woman getting dumped in a way that sounds like a plot point from a ruthless HBO drama. But that’s exactly what happened with the martha stewart boyfriend of 15 years, a man named Charles Simonyi.
Honestly, most people didn't even realize they were together for that long. While Martha was building a literal empire, Simonyi was quietly beside her—until he wasn't.
Who Was the Mystery Man?
Charles Simonyi isn't some Hollywood actor or a flashy socialite. He’s a Hungarian-born software architect. If you’ve ever used Microsoft Word or Excel, you’ve essentially used his brain children. He was the 40th employee at Microsoft and became a billionaire by making the world’s most famous office tools.
They started dating in 1993. This was right after Martha’s messy divorce from her husband of 30 years, Andrew Stewart. For a decade and a half, they were a power couple that stayed mostly under the radar.
It was a lifestyle of private jets, yachting around the world, and high-level intellectual debates. Martha has described him as a "total genius." They weren't just dating; they were building worlds together. She even helped him remodel his $10 million home in Washington.
The Prison Test
Things got heavy in 2004. Martha went to federal prison for five months. You’d think a martha stewart boyfriend of 15 years would be there every visiting day, right?
💡 You might also like: Dale Mercer Net Worth: Why the RHONY Star is Richer Than You Think
Not exactly.
Simonyi only visited her once during her stay at Alderson. Martha later admitted in her 2024 Netflix documentary, Martha, that this lack of contact was incredibly hurtful. She even wrote him letters from her cell, basically begging for a sign of life.
"I’ve not got an email or even a note from you for so long. I’d love to hear from you."
That’s a real line from one of her letters. It’s kinda heartbreaking. When she finally got out in 2005, he did send a private jet to pick her up, but the cracks were already starting to show. Martha noticed she felt "less exciting" after prison. She felt like her spark had dimmed in his eyes.
The Brutal Breakup in Iceland
The end didn't happen in a boardroom or over a civilized dinner. It happened in bed.
📖 Related: Jaden Newman Leaked OnlyFans: What Most People Get Wrong
They were in Iceland, visiting the president. Yes, that is how the 1% breaks up. According to Martha, they were lying in bed when Simonyi just dropped the bomb. He told her he was getting married to a woman named Lisa Persdotter.
Martha’s response? "Lisa who?"
She had no idea this woman even existed. To make it even more cold, Simonyi told her that Lisa’s parents had one specific condition for the marriage: he was never allowed to speak to Martha again.
Just like that, fifteen years went into the shredder. Martha refers to this moment as her "second divorce." It wasn't just a breakup; it was a total erasure.
Where Are They Now?
Charles Simonyi married Lisa in late 2008. She’s about 32 years younger than him. They’re still married today, living in Washington with their two daughters. He continued his tech career and even went to space twice as a tourist.
👉 See also: The Fifth Wheel Kim Kardashian: What Really Happened with the Netflix Comedy
Martha, meanwhile, didn't let it break her.
- She rebuilt her brand.
- She became a cultural icon for Gen Z.
- She started dating again (though she’s picky).
- She even dated Anthony Hopkins briefly (but dumped him because she couldn't stop seeing him as Hannibal Lecter).
Actionable Insight for the Rest of Us
What can we actually learn from the martha stewart boyfriend of 15 years saga? First, even "power couples" deal with basic, messy human betrayal. Second, if someone doesn't show up for you when things get hard—like, say, a five-month stint in the big house—pay attention.
If you're going through a "second divorce" of your own, take a page out of Martha’s book. You don't need a billionaire to stay relevant. You just need to keep building your own empire, whether that's a multi-million dollar media company or just a really great sourdough starter.
You should definitely check out the Martha documentary on Netflix if you want to see the actual footage of her talking about this. It’s raw, it’s slightly petty, and it’s 100% Martha.