Louis Bélanger-Martin holds a role at Tyra Banks' ice cream company, and they've dated since 2018
Louis Bélanger-Martin is a Canadian entrepreneur and the longtime partner of supermodel and television personality Tyra Banks. Best known publicly for his relationship with Banks, he is also the Chief Financial Officer of her ice cream brand, SMiZE & Dream, having joined the company before its 2021 launch. He and Banks have been linked since 2018, and the couple now live together in Sydney, Australia — a move driven in large part by the brand's growing presence in the country.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Louis Bélanger-Martin was born in Canada in the early 1970s.
- He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Quebec and a law degree from the University of Montreal, and is a qualified CPA.
- He has served as CFO of SMiZE & Dream LLC since 2020, the ice cream company he runs alongside Tyra Banks.
- The couple have been publicly together since August 2019, when they were photographed for the first time, with dating rumours gaining full steam in October 2019.
- Banks moved the family, including nine-year-old son York, to Australia in 2023.
Profile summary
Full name | Louis Bélanger-Martin | Tyra Lynne Banks |
Nationality | Canadian | American |
Born | Early 1970s, Canada | 4 December 1973, Los Angeles |
Education | BBA, University of Quebec; Law Certificate, University of Montreal | Harvard Business School (OPM programme) |
Occupation | Entrepreneur, CFO | Model, TV personality, businesswoman |
Current role | CFO, SMiZE & Dream LLC | Founder, SMiZE & Dream LLC |
Relationship status | Dating Tyra Banks | Dating Louis Bélanger-Martin |
Children | One son (with Valérie Martin Scraire) | One son, York Banks Asla (with Erik Asla) |
Based | Sydney, Australia | Sydney, Australia |
Who is Louis Bélanger-Martin?
Louis Bélanger-Martin is a prominent Canadian businessman with several high-level executive roles. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served as President and CEO of Advanced Inflight Alliance AG, specialising in in-flight entertainment systems.
He is the co-founder of DTI Software, the company credited with pioneering the in-flight entertainment systems travellers now take for granted — turning a chance observation on a dull flight into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Source: Getty Images
Louis Bélanger-Martin's education and early career
Bélanger-Martin received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Quebec and a law certificate from the University of Montreal, per his LinkedIn.
He has been a Member of The Society of Management Accountants of Canada since 1996, confirming his long-standing status as a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Louis Bélanger-Martin's job and business career
He founded DTI Software, Inc. in 1995, serving as its President and Chief Executive Officer until 2010. The company built some of the earliest commercial in-flight entertainment platforms.
He also founded Groupe W, Inc. in 1998, where he held the title of Director and Partner. Groupe W is a Canadian private equity firm that helps businesses scale globally.
His former roles include Vice Chairman at Global Eagle Entertainment from 2013 to 2016, Chairman at Mobi724 Global Solutions in 2014, and CEO at Advanced Inflight Alliance AG in 2013.
Since 2024, he has also served as an Independent Director at Graf Global Corp.
Louis Bélanger-Martin's role at SMiZE & Dream
Bélanger-Martin is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Banks' ice cream company, SMiZE Cream, which she launched in 2021.
He took on the CFO role in 2020, before the brand officially launched for customers. It is a rare example of a romantic partner and business partner being one and the same.
Banks' ice cream venture, SMiZE & DREAM, is set to open a flagship store in Sydney's Darling Harbour, with Australia's high ice cream consumption cited as a key factor in the location choice.
Source: Getty Images
Tyra Banks and Louis Bélanger-Martin: their relationship
How and when they started dating
Rumours about Tyra Banks and Louis Bélanger-Martin dating began circulating in August 2018, with reports that the couple was living together.
They were publicly photographed together for the first time in August 2019. In October 2019, the dating rumours gained full steam when Page Six reported they had dinner dates at the same restaurant twice in a single week.
The pair made their official public debut at the TIME 100 Gala in June 2022, though they did not walk the red carpet together.
Engagement rumours
In August 2020, engagement rumours were sparked by the Daily Mail when Banks was seen wearing a stone on her finger during a walk in Santa Monica. However, neither Banks nor Bélanger-Martin acknowledged the reports, and US Weekly later confirmed they were not engaged.
The move to Australia
Banks moved her family, including Bélanger-Martin and her son York, to Australia after she began frequently visiting the country for her ice cream company, which has a facility in Sydney.
"I just fell in love with it. Every time I went back, and went back … the three countries that eat the most ice cream: America, New Zealand and Australia. So I was like, 'I'm happy here and they love to eat some ice cream, so, are we going to do this family? And we did." — Tyra Banks, Today with Jenna & Friends, April 2025
Marriage talk
Insiders say Banks is so thrilled with her life in Australia that she has been talking about finally tying the knot after more than five years together.
According to a source, they might exchange vows on the beach in Sydney with friends and family.
"Louis isn't like any other guy Tyra has partnered with before. He's also emotionally available — he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he's very open and public about how much he wants to spend the rest of his life with Tyra." — Anonymous insider, Yahoo Entertainment, May 2025
How Tyra Banks talks about Louis
In April 2025, Banks gushed about Bélanger-Martin on TODAY With Jenna and Friends, calling him "super supportive."
Banks also told TODAY:
"That's where my stuff happens — of self doubt, am I good enough, am I just a model? My man is amazing at helping me through those moments."
In a September 2023 interview with PEOPLE, she revealed that Bélanger-Martin had tried to throw her a lavish 50th birthday party.
"My man, he wanted to throw this huge 50-year-old birthday for me and I kind of found out about it," she said. "I let him know, I have no desire to do that. I just want to go to Disneyland with the family."
Family: children and former partners
Bélanger-Martin was previously married to Valérie Martin Scraire, with whom he has a son.
According to Page Six, Banks' son York Banks Asla has his own room at the house in Magog that Bélanger-Martin shares with Scraire's family. The blended family arrangement reflects the couple's commitment to keeping both households close.
Banks has never married. Her son York's father is Erik Asla, a Norwegian photographer. The pair dated from 2013 but broke up in 2017, roughly a year after York's birth via surrogate.
Latest news
Reports from mid-2025 indicate that Banks and Bélanger-Martin are planning to open a production plant for her SMiZE & Dream brand in Sydney, further anchoring the couple's life in Australia.
The couple also plans to open a larger plant for the SMiZE & Dream brand in Sydney. Banks was in Australia when her Malibu home was destroyed in the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and has not publicly stated whether she will rebuild.
In April 2025, Bélanger-Martin cheered Banks on from the sidelines as she co-hosted Jenna & Friends. Banks called out to him live on air — at which point he made a quick cameo, waving and gesturing a kiss to her.
What is Louis Bélanger-Martin's net worth?
Net worth figures for Bélanger-Martin vary widely across online sources and no major financial publishers — including Forbes or Business Insider — have published a verified figure. Some sources estimate his net worth at between $1 million and $5 million, while others speculate figures as high as $60 million. Given the lack of corroboration from authoritative outlets, no single figure can be reliably confirmed.
His known income sources include:
- DTI Software — founded in 1995, sold/exited by 2010
- Groupe W Inc. — Canadian private equity firm, co-founded 1998
- Advanced Inflight Alliance AG — served as CEO in 2013
- Global Eagle Entertainment — Vice Chairman, 2013–2016
- SMiZE & Dream LLC — current CFO role since 2020
- Graf Global Corp — Independent Director since 2024
FAQ
- Who is Louis Bélanger-Martin? He is a Canadian entrepreneur and the boyfriend of Tyra Banks. He currently serves as CFO of her ice cream brand, SMiZE & Dream.
- Where is Louis Bélanger-Martin from? He was born in Canada in the early 1970s, though his exact birthplace is not publicly confirmed.
- What is Louis Bélanger-Martin's job? He is the Chief Financial Officer of SMiZE & Dream LLC, a role he has held since 2020. He is also a director at Graf Global Corp and a co-founder of Groupe W.
- How long have Tyra Banks and Louis Bélanger-Martin been together? They have been linked since 2018, making theirs a relationship of over seven years.
- Are Tyra Banks and Louis Bélanger-Martin engaged or married? No. US Weekly confirmed the two are not engaged, despite earlier rumours. Marriage talk has been reported but nothing confirmed.
- Does Louis Bélanger-Martin have children? Yes — he has a son with his ex-wife, Valérie Martin Scraire.
- What is Louis Bélanger-Martin's nationality? He is Canadian.
- Why did Tyra Banks move to Australia? Banks was frequently visiting Australia because her ice cream company, SMiZE & Dream, has a facility in Sydney. She and Bélanger-Martin eventually relocated there permanently with her son York.
Quick facts
- He co-founded DTI Software, which pioneered in-flight entertainment systems in 1995.
- He is CFO of Tyra Banks' ice cream brand, SMiZE & Dream.
- He co-founded Groupe W, a Canadian private equity firm, in 1998.
- He has been a Member of The Society of Management Accountants of Canada since 1996.
- He relocated to Sydney, Australia, with Tyra Banks and her son York in 2023.
Legit.ng also highlighted facts about Tyra Banks' extensive boyfriend history, including her relationships with notable figures such as John Singleton, Chris Webber, and current partner Louis Bélanger-Martin. Despite her high-profile dating life, Banks has prioritised her career and family, maintaining a level of privacy that intrigues many fans and followers.
Source: Legit.ng
