Lady Gaga and her fiancé, Michael Polansky, quietly became parents earlier this year, adding a new chapter to their relationship that has largely unfolded away from constant public attention. The couple welcomed a baby girl, Rose Bean Polansky, on June 9, 2026, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
A source told PEOPLE that Rose’s name was inspired by “La Vie En Rose,” the song Gaga performed in the 2018 film A Star Is Born. Her middle name, Bean, is believed to honor activist Carl Bean, whose story helped inspire Gaga’s hit “Born This Way.” Representatives for the couple, however, have not publicly confirmed their daughter’s name or sex.
Gaga and Polansky began dating in late 2019 and made their relationship public in early 2020. Their romance eventually led to an engagement in 2024, and they have since spoken openly about building a family together.
As Polansky receives renewed attention alongside Gaga, here is a closer look at his parents and family background, his ethnicity, and the wealth he has built through his business and philanthropic career.
Michael Polansky’s Parents and Early Life
Michael Polansky was raised in Minnesota in a family with strong links to writing, education, and science. His father, Steven Polansky, is an award-winning writer and former professor, while his mother, Ellen Woods, has built a long career in pharmaceutical education.
Steven Polansky is best known for his work as a fiction writer. He studied at Wesleyan University before earning a master’s degree in creative writing from Hollins College and later a Ph.D. in English Literature from Princeton University.
Over the years, Steven also taught at several colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, St. Olaf College, Macalester College, the University of Connecticut, and SUNY Buffalo.
His writing has appeared in well-known publications such as The New Yorker, Harper’s, and New England Review. His short-story collection, Dating Miss Universe, won the Sandstone Prize for Fiction and a Minnesota Book Award. He later published the novel The Bradbury Report in 2010.
Michael’s mother, Ellen L. Woods, has followed a different professional path. She serves as president and secretary of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, an organization that supports education and research in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Ellen also appears to have a close relationship with Lady Gaga. In a 2025 interview with ELLE, Gaga said Michael’s mother had become one of her best friends. She also spoke about spending time with Ellen and having conversations about their lives and experiences.
Michael has shared very little about his childhood, but he has spoken about growing up in Minnesota. While discussing his early conversations with Gaga, he said she was interested in hearing about what his life had been like there.
His education later took him to Harvard University, where he studied applied mathematics and computer science. After graduating in 2006, Polansky went on to work in finance, technology, investment, and philanthropy, building a successful career long before his relationship with Gaga brought him wider public attention.
Michael Polansky’s Net Worth and Earnings
Michael Polansky’s net worth is often reported at around $600 million, although there is no public financial record confirming that figure.
His wealth is mainly linked to his long career in business, investment, technology, and philanthropy. Polansky has worked with Sean Parker’s organizations for years and currently serves as executive director of the Parker Foundation. He is also connected to the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and has co-founded businesses, including the biotech company Outer Bio.
