Evans family history shapes star

Billy Evans, who appears as the romantic partner of Elizabeth Holmes in the recent documentary 'You Can See Everything,' has deep financial ties to San Diego through his family's hospitality business. Evans Hotels, founded by his grandparents in 1953, owns major resort properties in the city, including the Bahia Resort Hotel and The Lodge at Torrey Pines. The company's long-standing presence has made the family a recurring figure in local political and real estate debates for more than seven decades.

The documentary, directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, follows the 34 days before Holmes began serving her 11-year prison sentence in May 2023. The film shows Holmes and Evans living with their young children in a rented beach house in Del Mar. Much of the footage captures the couple's daily life in San Diego, a city where Evans has lived since childhood and where his family has held considerable influence.

Evans' grandparents, William and Anne Evans, established the hotel company in 1953 with the Bahia Resort Hotel as their first property. At the time, Mission Bay was largely undeveloped marshland. Their son, Bill Evans, expanded the portfolio over the following decades. In 2012, local media described Bill Evans as a man of significant influence, noting his service on various regional boards and his close relationships with politicians. His family also made frequent donations to political campaigns in the region.

The Evans family's relationship with the city government has been complex. In 2012, Bill Evans secured a 40-year lease for his Mission Bay resort. Critics at the time argued the deal was rushed through City Council to take advantage of low interest rates and included provisions that allowed for a potential 50-year extension if major redevelopment was approved. Bill Evans also opposed a 2011 plan to expand the Convention Center, which would have increased hotel taxes. In 2018, Evans Hotels filed a lawsuit against local unions, alleging they used environmental concerns to block lease agreements, a dispute that stemmed partly from a failed attempt to build a hotel near Sea World.

Billy Evans attended Francis Parker School in San Diego before earning a degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After college, he attempted to launch a concierge medical services startup, then worked for LinkedIn and the self-driving car company Luminar Technologies. He met Holmes in San Francisco in 2017, just as she was indicted by a federal grand jury. The couple became engaged in 2018 but have never legally married, a fact Holmes confirmed in a 2025 interview.

Evans is currently focused on a new startup called Haemanthus, which he began raising money for in 2025. The company uses lasers and artificial intelligence to develop health testing technology for diseases like cancer and Parkinson's. The company has stated that Holmes has zero involvement in the business, though the documentary depicts the couple collaborating on a venture and speaking with investors. Haemanthus was incorporated in 2024 and had reportedly raised $20 million by 2025, but it has not yet released a product.

In a recent appearance on the All-In podcast, Evans described the documentary's purpose as a way to show the public who Holmes is. He said he had not yet seen the final film and joked that he might view the project as the dumbest thing he has ever done.