Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian-born American software executive, computer pioneer, and space tourist. Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1948, his early life was marked by an immediate interest in computing and space; he was selected as Hungary's Junior Astronaut at age 13. Simonyi left his homeland at 17 to work as a computer programmer in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He moved to the United States in 1968, securing an elite technical education: he earned a B.S. in engineering and mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in computer science from Stanford University. From 1972 to 1980, he worked at Xerox Corp.'s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where he created the first WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) text editor, Bravo. This invention was the intellectual foundation for his monumental career at Microsoft.

Charles Simonyi joined the nascent Microsoft Corporation in 1981, quickly becoming a central figure in the company's early success. In his 20 years at Microsoft, he held titles including Director of Application Development and Chief Architect, leading the teams that developed two of the most ubiquitous software applications in history: Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. His concept of meta-programming and Hungarian notation profoundly influenced software development practices worldwide.

Simonyi left Microsoft in 2002 to found Intentional Software Corp., a software engineering firm. In his later career, he indulged his lifelong passion for space: in 2007, he became the fifth paying space tourist sent into orbit by Space Adventures, Ltd., for $20 million. He made a second flight in 2009, becoming the first repeat space tourist. His wealth, rooted in his founding role in Microsoft's application empire, allowed him to fund this high-end scientific and personal adventure.

Charles Simonyi's philanthropy is structural and heavily focused on science, education, and the arts. He established the Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, which has provided massive endowments to organizations globally.

His structural social impact is the creation of the most widely used text and spreadsheet software globally, profoundly changing the way the world works. His two spaceflights were used to advance civilian space flight and involve the world's youth in space science, reflecting his dedication to leveraging his wealth for scientific progress and inspiration.

Charles Simonyi maintains the pragmatic, intellectual style of a software architect and engineer. His attire is consistently professional, favoring comfortable, high-quality business wear. His aesthetic is one of composed intelligence, though his public persona is often defined by his eccentric, high-profile hobby of space tourism.

Residing in Bellevue, Washington, his luxury is the profound financial security derived from his Microsoft legacy, which affords him the autonomy to pursue unique, personal projects like flying jets and helicopters (he is a trained pilot with over 2,000 flying hours) and his adventures into outer space.