Charles Simonyi

About

Hungarian-born computer engineer who oversaw Microsoft's development of Word and Excel.

Before Fame

While working as a night watchman for a computer lab, he learned programming from one of the engineers.

Trivia

In 2009, he became the first tourist (or non-astronaut,) to go up into space, twice.

Family Life

He married Lisa Persdotter, the daughter of a Swedish millionaire, in 2008.

Associated With

Paul Allen at Microsoft intervened directly to give him a job.