All About Michael Polansky, Lady Gaga's Tech Entrepreneur Boyfriend of 2+ Years Amid Breakup Rumors
She’s off the deep end, watch as we dive in. In February 2020, Lady Gaga was spotted cozying up to investor Michael Polansky ahead of her pre-Super Bowl performance. Page Six ran photos of the pair kissing on a balcony in Miami. Polansky was also on hand during Gaga’s Saturday night show and by her side during Super Bowl LIV, per Entertainment Tonight. Now, they’re IG official, attended the 2021 inauguration as a couple, and are going strong in 2023. Below, everything we know about the musician’s man of about three years.
Polansky is a Harvard grad and works with Facebook co-founder Sean Parker.
Polansky, a Harvard graduate, runs Facebook co-founder Sean Parker’s Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. According to his LinkedIn, Polansky has served as CEO for The Parker Group, which houses the mogul’s various charities and businesses, for the last decade.
He’s clearly steeped in Parker’s dealings, as his LinkedIn also shows he’s the co-founder/executive director of The Parker Foundation and a managing partner in Parker Ventures. According to the Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy website, Polansky also serves on the six-person board tasked with breaking down barriers against cancer research.
Earlier in his career, Polansky worked at Founders Fund alongside Parker and Peter Thiel (both characters in the 2010 Oscar-nominated movie The Social Network). In 2013, he co-founded the bipartisan policy organization Economic Innovation Group (EIG), which also involves Parker. Interestingly enough, Justin Timberlake played Parker in 2010’s The Social Network, and Gaga was the musical guest on Timberlake’s May 2011 SNL episode.
He and Gaga have been spotted together before.
Before spending Super Bowl weekend together, Gaga was seen kissing Polansky in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Clearly, things are getting serious as he was spotted hanging out with Gaga’s family over Super Bowl weekend. Polansky reportedly spoke with Gaga’s mother Cynthia Germanotta during her daughter’s performance and danced alongside Gaga and her sister Natali during Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s halftime show.
News of their relationship comes about a year after Gaga ended her engagement to talent agent Christian Carino in February 2019. (Coincidentally Bradley Cooper, who Gaga was previously rumored to be involved with, had a friendly reunion with his ex Irina Shayk on the same weekend.)
Sources say Parker may have introduced the couple.
Per Page Six sources, Gaga and Polansky have “likely known each other for a while through events Parker has hosted at his LA mansion.” The insider claims the couple connected at Parker’s December 2019 birthday party.
In fact, Cooper says he met Gaga in April 2016 when she performed at the opening of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Parker’s home. While there, she sang Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose,” which inspired Cooper to cast Gaga in her Oscar-nominated role from A Star Is Born.
“I was at a cancer benefit with my mother. I really did not know Lady Gaga’s music,” Cooper told W magazine. “They had a surprise musical guest, and Stefani came out with her hair slicked back.”
They regularly share sweet couple selfies on Instagram.
“Michael is a really smart guy, a very serious guy, who has always been low key,” a source told Page Six about the CEO and investor. But on Monday, February 3, Gaga took their romance public, posting their first IG as a couple. “We had so much fun in Miami. Love to all my little monsters and fans, you’re the best! ❤️” she captioned a photo of the two cuddling up on a boat.
Gaga followed that post up with a Valentine’s Day shoutout to Polansky. “Happy Valentine’s Day!! “Babe, do I have lipstick all-over me?”😂#valentines ❤️💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💕🧚♀️happy v-day to all my monsters!!! I love you!!! ❤️😘🎈,” she captioned a photo of the pair.
Then, came an Instagrammable sunset picture from the couple on February 18. And—in a nod to her new single “Stupid Love”—Gaga captioned a March 5 selfie with Polansky, “I’ve got a STUPID love💕.”
Gaga was “getting serious” with Polansky during quarantine.
E! spoke to a source during Super Bowl weekend about how Gaga was feeling during the first months of the two’s romance. The source said Gaga “has been dating the same guy for over a month. They’ve been seeing other since before the holidays, and she’s crazy about him.”
Things have only gone stronger for the couple since then. A source told Entertainment Tonight in March, “They both felt social distancing and quarantine was the right thing to do, and it’s given them time to spend together and focus on one another without work or any other distractions.” Gaga even shared a snapshot of her quarantine with Polansky on Instagram. She captioned a photo of the couple interlocking hands, “Day 6 of self-quarantining! Going strong, playing video games and cards, and taking care of ourselves. Important reminder: keep your mind as stress free as possible and your body moving. #selflove #selfcare #bekind try not to pass it in case you have it #corona it’s ok and so wonderful to stay home if you can!What a kind act for the world ❤️.”
The source went on to explain that while Gaga wanted to keep their relationship private at first, their strong connection inspired her to take their romance public. “Gaga is really getting serious with her boyfriend, and the chemistry is undeniable,” the insider said. “At first she wanted to keep it low key and quiet because she had just gotten out of a relationship and thought taking it slow would be good, but they had an immediate connection, so it was tough to keep under wraps. They were spending so much time together, she finally decided to post on Instagram to make it official.”
Since then, the couple hasn’t been shy about going out in public together. Gaga embraced summer dressing and went nearly pantless on two separate occasions last June, with Polansky by her side. One afternoon, they were spotted grabbing iced coffee together and the other the couple could be seen getting takeout in Malibu. On both occasions, Gaga and Polansky wore masks.
Another sign that this couple is going strong: they’re working together. On April 18, Gaga shared that Polansky was helping fundraise for those on the frontlines of the pandemic through the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. “With some of my co-fundraisers @booconnor @michaelpolansky #oneworld #togetherathome Miss you @wanaynay our other co-fundraiser and producer and missing our other co-fundraisers @who & @glblctzn,” captioned a photo of the pair wearing matching Together at Home merch.
Gaga also referenced Polansky’s work during an interview with Morning Joe. “With Born This Way Foundation, my mother, Cynthia Germanotta, and our co-founder Maya [Enista Smith], who I love so very much—they are working with my, the love of my life on something for mental health,” Gaga said, per People.
Polansky’s ex-girlfriend has spoken about his relationship with Gaga.
Ever wonder what it would feel like to see your ex dating a celebrity? Lindsay Crouse, senior staff editor at The New York Times and Polansky’s ex, wrote about the experience in a February 2020 op-ed. Titled, “My Ex-Boyfriend’s New Girlfriend Is Lady Gaga,” she explored what it was like to see Polansky, whom she dated for seven years, be photographed by Gaga’s side in paparazzi shots. “Lady Gaga is amazing,” Crouse wrote, concluding his relationship had a positive impact on her outlook. “Comparing yourself with her is incredibly motivational, and I recommend you try it, regardless of how you relate to who’s dating her.”
Polansky loves to support and “take care” of Gaga.
Five months into their relationship, Polansky was reportedly a support system for Gaga as she released her sixth album, Chromatica. The night her long-awaited record dropped, Gaga and Polansky celebrated the occasion by dancing to her new song, “911.” Sporting masks and socially distancing, the pair danced in front of a background of bright pink and metallic balloons that spelled “Chromatica.”
According to an Us Weekly source in June 2020, Polansky enjoys attending to his girlfriend in multiple ways. “She loves to be wined and dined and taken care of, and Michael certainly does that for her,” a source told the outlet of Gaga. “He loves to take care of her and spoil her, and they love to travel together.” The insider added, “Michael is very wealthy and likes to treat her to nice things and experiences.”
They both enjoy Italian cooking.
Gaga has long praised her Italian heritage and has been known to cook an expert bowl of pasta. She even cooked some for Cooper when they met about A Star Is Born. Last August, the singer shared a few snapshots from a night-in cooking with Polansky. While he doesn’t appear in any of the photos, Polansky does get a shoutout in the caption. “I put rosé in my Bolognese. Making dinner with love🌹and some spicy Italian gravy. Love to everyone!! 🍽🍷 🧊🥃🍾 mangia !!!!!! Xxxxxxoooooxoooo🥂” she wrote alongside some kitchen shots and a couple of selfies. Gaga added, “I love connecting with my culture with someone I love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
He attended the inauguration by Gaga’s side.
Another major milestone in their relationship was attending the inauguration together. Gaga, wearing a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown, was on hand to sing the national anthem at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s inauguration. Polansky went to the historic event as her date and was spotted sharing a masked kiss with Gaga. A source told Us Weekly that ahead of her performance Gaga was “grateful to have the support of Joe, Jill, her family, her boyfriend and the American people.”
He gets her very thoughtful gifts.
For Gaga’s 35th birthday on March 28, Polansky sent her a giant bouquet of flowers that she described as “all the flowers in Rome.” If you take a look at this photo, she’s not wrong.
And that is how you impress an Aries on her birthday.
Gaga was reportedly thinking about a future with him in March 2021.
In March 2021, source told Entertainment Tonight that the star thinks about what her future with her boyfriend of more than one year would look like. The source said that Gaga “is super in love with Michael Polansky.”
“She has been telling her friends that she wants to get through a few projects and then focus on settling down,” the source added. “Gaga wants to have children one day and sees a future with Michael.”
In a spring 2020 InStyle interview, Gaga spoke about her dreams to have a family:
“I will say I am very excited to have kids,” Gaga said. “I look forward to being a mom. Isn’t it incredible what we can do? We can hold a human inside and grow it. Then it comes out, and it’s our job to keep it alive. It’s so funny—everyone works out of my house every day. When they come in, I always say, ‘Welcome to the Womb!'”
A source said things are getting “pretty serious” nearly two years in.
After being together for more than two years, Lady Gaga and Polansky are reportedly very happy and “very much in love.”
A source told Entertainment Tonight on January 7, 2022, “Lady Gaga and Michael are still together and enjoying their relationship…Gaga and Michael are serious and are very much in love.”
That same week, Gaga was given the Icon Award by the Palms Springs Film Awards, and thanked them for the prize on Twitter.
“I dedicate this to all the beautiful communities who have come together for years to support a shared vision for kindness and bravery in the art of life,” she wrote. “My icon is a mirror. My icon is you.”
Gaga brought Polansky with her to the 2022 BAFTAs.
That evening, she received a Leading Actress nomination for her portrayal of Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci. Gaga stunned in an emerald green Ralph Lauren gown with a plunging neckline.
The award ceremony was hosted by Aussie comedian Rebel Wilson, who poked fun at Polansky during the event. Wilson awarded him a golden bra for “Best Plus One.”
“Are you Lady Gaga’s plus one?” she asked Polansky. “That is a good gig.”
They stepped out for dinner in NYC in March 2022.
On Friday, March 18, Lady Gaga and Polansky went out to dinner looking cozy and comfortable together. Gaga was wearing a bright blue hoodie with the words “I represent queens” emblazoned across it in red with a pair of tight black leggings and sneakers.
Polansky was wearing a puffer jacket in orange, green, and white, with a black baseball cap. A few days earlier, Gaga was all glammed up at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards ceremony at TAO Downtown restaurant. She walked the red carpet in a Jason Wu bustier gown with a full tiered skirt. At the event, she was awarded Best Actress for her role in House of Gucci.
Polansky supported Gaga at the 2022 Grammys.
Gaga paid homage to Tony Bennett, performing two songs from their Grammy-winning album, Love for Sale. Seated next to country star Keith Urban, Polansky cheered Gaga on from the crowd.
Gaga and Polansky were photographed grocery shopping in Malibu in May 2022.
In a rare glimpse of their domestic life, Gaga and Polansky were photographed out grocery shopping in Malibu by paparazzi there at the end of May. The two went to Vintage Grocers, with Gaga dressed stylishly but casually in orange tie-dye shorts, a tan Joah Brown hoodie, Nike sneakers, and an olive Aviator Nation baseball cap. She carried a Louis Vuitton bag. Polansky wore a white hoodie, dark baseball cap, and dark gray shorts himself. You can see photos of them here. Like a gentleman, Polansky carried their grocery bag for Gaga.
The couple was spotted in Lake Como in June 2022.
Paparazzi photographed Gaga and Polansky enjoying an intimate breakfast in Italy. The singer showed off her toned physique in a black bikini, while Polansky opted for a gray hoodie and white shorts. That evening, Gaga performed at the wedding of billionaire Alan Howard and his partner Caroline Byron.
In March 2023, Gaga and Polansky kept quiet about their relationship status amid breakup reports.
Tabloid RadarOnline ran a report in late March claiming the two had allegedly broken up and were now just friends, sparking speculation the two’s relationship status may have changed.
A source told the outlet, “They broke up a few months ago. It was amicable. They’re still friends.” Polansky wasn’t ready to propose “and their relationship hit a wall.”
“Gaga is a true romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve,” the source continued. ““She’s been on a few dates here and there since splitting from Michael and is open to being in a long-term relationship should the right man come along.”
No major outlet reported the breakup news independently, and neither Gaga nor Polansky themselves commented on it. Gaga was shooting Joker: Folie à Deux in March, with her personal life remaining under the wraps.
As of August 2023, Gaga has shared no update on Polansky.
It’s unclear whether or not Gaga and Polansky are still together, although multiple tabloids reported on their breakup in the spring after Radar published its report. No major outlet confirmed it though.
Gaga has generally kept a very minimal presence on social media and has not been photographed out with Polansky either.
In June, she updated fans on what she has been up to but made no reference to her love life. She wrote:
I wanted to share a more personal moment with you today, I know I haven’t been doing a lot of that lately and some of you are really longing for me to share more of my artistic process. I’ve been experiencing my creativity ever since last summer in a really special and private way—I wrote and produced music for a special project, I prepared for months developing my character for Joker, I filmed Joker for many months (a very introspective time), I have been running my start-up Haus Labs, doing philanthropic work, and additionally have been working on The Chromatica Ball film edit. I can say for the first time in many years that my love of making art, music, fashion, and supporting community has never been more fulfilling. I may not be sharing as much of myself online as I have in the past, but I hope you know this time to myself has been extremely healing and recharging for my heart, mind, body, and creativity—to create within myself and to have a personal life that’s just for me. I’m sure that may feel different because I haven’t always been so private (I bet that will make some of you laugh)—but I LOVE my fans, my little monsters, so much and that will never change. I can’t even begin to describe how much our global community inspires me every day to bring as much joy as I can to your lives. Here’s a photo of my working on The Chromatica Ball film edit (that’s a frame from the film behind me)—I can’t WAIT for you to experience it. Thank you for being willing to grow with me so that I can change and transform with the community I love so much. I hope you love all the things I’ve been creating for you and I hope this is a small reminder to you of my deep passion and commitment to art. 🖤
Editorial Fellow
Savannah Walsh is an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com.
Hilary Weaver is a freelance writer based in New York who writes about politics, queer issues, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, and every woman the Queen has ever made a dame. I saw Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again three times in theaters, and that’s pretty much all you need to know.
