Who Is Matthew Gilmour? All About Elizabeth Smart's Life, Husband, And Family After Her Ordeal

After more than two decades of Elizabeth Smart's safe escape from one of America's most haunting kidnapping cases, her life is now a powerful story of survival. She became a familiar name to the world as a 14-year-old missing teenager in 2002, who was taken from her bedroom at knifepoint. However, the present Elizabeth is a wife, mother of three, and a leading child safety activist. 

After the traumatic journey, a man who has been her strength throughout her journey of sharing her story to the world has been her husband, Matthew Gilmour. As Netflix's new documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart brings her story back into the spotlight, let us know how the couple made new beginnings and built a family of their own.

Who is Matthew Gilmour and what does he do? 

Elizabeth Smart's husband is a Utah-based entrepreneur and the co-founder of Park City Host, a vacation rental and property management company. He began the business in 2013 with his business partner, Luke, and together they have turned it into a successful hospitality brand in the popular mountain resort town of Park City. According to his company's biography, Mathew always had a deep connection to the outdoors and mountain life. Consequently, his interest ultimately led him to settle in Park City more than a decade ago. His work focuses on luxury vacation rentals, property care, and guest services. As per his company bio: 

"Matthew has always had an affinity for the natural beauty and splendor of the mountains. This appreciation led him to fall in love with Park City, which has been his hometown for over 10 years."

Mathew is described as a hands-on business owner. Yet, it is also known for balancing entrepreneurship with family life. At the same time. Park City Host's work ethic reflects his company's success, his ventures, and his customer relationships. Apart from his work, he is the father of three kids he shared with Elizabeth. His friends and colleagues describe him as deeply committed to his family and supportive of Elizabeth's advocacy work through Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which focuses on child safety, survivor advocacy, and abuse prevention. They now live a private life in Utah.

How did Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour meet?

Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour first met in 2009 when she was on a Mormon mission trip in Paris. She was 24 years old at the time and finishing her studies at Brigham Young University. On the other hand, Matthew, then 22, was originally from Scotland, and he was clueless about her traumatic past during their initial interaction. In a previous interview, Matthew explained that he was drawn to her confidence despite the tragic events in her life. Gradually, their friendship grew into a long-distance relationship, and Matthew proposed in January 2012. After a month, they tied the knot in Oahu, Hawaii, where Elizabeth spent time during recovery after her rescue.

The couple are parents to three children, a daughter, Chloé, born in February 2015, and a son, James, born in April 2017. They even welcomed a daughter, Olivia, in November 2018. Elizabeth has been open about how she approaches her past with her children. In a 2024 interview with People, she explained that although she does not hide her story, she shares it in age-appropriate ways. In her words: 

"They could tell you the overarching story of what happened, but they couldn't tell you details. If and when you want to talk about it more, we can."

More about Netflix's Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart 

Netflix's Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a retelling of Elizabeth's story, which once shook the US. The documentary premiered on January 21, 2026, and recalls her 2002 abduction and nine-month captivity from a survivor's perspective. Directed by Benedict Sanderson, the story is told in Elizabeth's own words. Presently, she lives a happy life with Matthew Gilmour by her side and continues to help others, affected like her, do the same.

After all the trauma and hardships, Elizabeth Smart found her soulmate in Matthew Gilmour, who stood by her and helps her voice out her journey helping others do the same.

Next Read: Where Is Elizabeth Smart Now? Who Kidnapped Her And Where Are They? Here's Everything We Know

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