Who Is Matthew Gilmour? All About Elizabeth Smart’s Husband, Family Life, and Journey After Her Ordeal

More than two decades after Elizabeth Smart’s dramatic escape from one of the most infamous kidnapping cases in American history, she has built a life of resilience and advocacy. Elizabeth became a household name as a 14-year-old in 2002, when she was abducted from her bedroom at knifepoint. Today, she is a devoted wife, mother of three, and a leading child safety activist.

Standing by her side throughout her journey of healing and advocacy is her husband, Matthew Gilmour. As Netflix’s new documentary Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart revisits her story, the spotlight also shines on how Elizabeth and Matthew built a life together.

Who is Matthew Gilmour?

Elizabeth Smart’s husband, Matthew Gilmour, is a Utah-based entrepreneur and co-founder of Park City Host, a vacation rental and property management company. He started the business in 2013 alongside his partner, Luke, growing it into a successful hospitality brand in the mountain resort town of Park City. Matthew’s connection to the outdoors inspired him to settle there, and his work focuses on luxury vacation rentals, property care, and guest services. In his company bio, it is mentioned:

“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.”

Matthew is recognized for balancing entrepreneurship with family life and is a supportive father to the couple’s three children. Friends describe him as deeply committed to his family and Elizabeth’s advocacy through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which focuses on child safety, survivor advocacy, and abuse prevention.

How Elizabeth Smart and Matthew Gilmour Met

Elizabeth and Matthew first met in 2009 during a Mormon mission trip in Paris. At the time, Elizabeth was 24 and completing her studies at Brigham Young University, while Matthew, 22, originally from Scotland, was unaware of her past ordeal. Matthew later explained that he was drawn to Elizabeth’s confidence and resilience. Their friendship developed into a long-distance relationship, leading to Matthew’s proposal in January 2012. The couple married a month later in Oahu, Hawaii, where Elizabeth spent time recovering after her rescue.

Family Life

The couple has three children: daughter Chloé, born in February 2015, son James, born in April 2017, and daughter Olivia, born in November 2018. Elizabeth has shared that she discusses her past with her children in an age-appropriate manner, saying:

“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.”

Netflix Documentary: Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart

Netflix’s Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, directed by Benedict Sanderson, premiered on January 21, 2026. It retells Elizabeth’s abduction and nine-month captivity from her perspective. Today, she continues to live a happy life with Matthew Gilmour and helps others affected by trauma, using her own experiences as a source of strength and advocacy.

Elizabeth Smart’s story is one of survival, healing, and resilience, with Matthew Gilmour as her partner in both life and advocacy, supporting her mission to empower and protect children.