Her story gripped the world, creating a cult following for the young woman who tricked Silicon Valley into believing her idea that a single drop of blood could be used to conduct multiple health checks and tests. Except it didn’t, and never could. On January 3, a Palo Alto jury found Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos , guilty on four of 11 charges. But what of the trial of Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, the man by Holmes’ side for much of Theranos’ running? Not only were they business partners, but the couple spent over a decade together in a romantic relationship . According to CNBC, Balwani’s trial has been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but is expected to start in March. Here’s what you need to know about the man who ruled Holmes’ heart for years. Meet Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s millionaire sons, Brandon and Dylan Who is Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani? Born in 1965 in Pakistan to a Sindhi Hindu family who later emigrated to the US, Ramesh Balwani studied information systems at the University of Texas, reports The New York Times . He is notoriously private and the story of how the so-called “dot-com guy”, as he was known, became “Sunny” is not public knowledge. Court records show he was married to a Japanese artist who filed for divorce in 2002. His big career win The New York Times reports that Balwani started his career in software as a sales manager for Microsoft. In 1999, he joined a start-up, CommerceBid.com, as president. The National reports the company built platforms that allowed businesses to have suppliers compete against each other so that costs could be reduced. Before it turned one, it was bought for US$225 million. After the financial collapse, the company went bang and was worth very little. According to The New York Times , Balwani made it out with around US$40 million. 7 things to know about Brad Pitt’s rumoured girlfriend, Lykke Li The Elizabeth Holmes connection According to Holmes’ own testimony, she met Balwani on a trip to China when she was 18. She was studying at Stanford at the time. They were friends first and their romance started in 2005. Then, in 2009, Balwani joined Theranos as president of the company, responsible for the day to day running of the organisation. He later became chief operating officer. In the podcast The Dropout, about the Theranos story and downfall of Holmes, scientists who were part of the company commented on how they were shocked that Balwani was making strategic decisions when he had no medical background. The shock allegations In her trial in 2021, Holmes claimed Balwani had verbally and sexually abused her. She said he did not control her or force her to lie to investors, but said he impacted everything that she did. In her trial, she read out messages that he had sent to her, seemingly to show how he controlled her, telling her how to dress and what to eat and drink. Who is Hannah Quinlivan, Jay Chou’s pregnant Taiwanese-Australian wife? Balwani on trial View this post on Instagram A post shared by KPIX 5 News (@kpixtv) Although the two were both accused in the Theranos saga, US district judge Edward Davila separated proceedings based on the idea that Holmes would say some of her behaviour could be linked to “intimate partner abuse”, reports The Guardian . Jeffrey Coopersmith, Balwani’s lawyer, has denied the claims against his client. He has pled not guilty, but was not allowed in court during Holmes’s trial. Instead his lawyer, Coopersmith, was regularly seen in court making notes . World Nation News reports that Balwani is currently living in a 8,800 sq ft home that he bought in 2018, and is currently worth an estimated US$19 million . Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .