Kiwi beauty steals the heart of controversial internet tycoon Kim Dotcom

Controversial multi-millionaire internet tycoon Kim Dotcom has declared a new romance with a New Zealand beauty has taken off at ‘internet speed’.

According to the posts on his social media accounts, the woman who stole stolen the New Zealand-based German internet tycoon’s heart is Auckland’s Elizabeth Donnelly, 21 years his junior.

Posting about the whirlwind romance on social media, the father of five says he is in a good place, with happy kids, a beautiful home and a new love.

This is Dotcom's first romance since separation from ex wife Mona Dotcom in July 2014.

Dotcom has moved out of his $50 million Coatesville mansion, in New Zealand, – where his ex lived 50 metres away in a cottage on the property – and into a rented waterfront penthouse apartment in Auckland, with Donnelly, according to the New Zealand Herald.

"My luck has changed once I moved away from that mansion,” Dotcom told the Herald.

"I thought I would never love again. My heart turned ice cold after my separation from Mona. To love and be loved is what happiness is all about.

“I'm so happy that I met Liz and that I can feel those butterflies again."

It is believed the new couple met after exchanging messages on Instagram eight weeks ago.

Ms Donnelly said her first date with Dotcom was spent at his penthouse, with estranged wife Mona and the children.

"I came over here (to the penthouse). We just hung out inside and the kids were here and Mona was here but we got on well," she said.

The pair wished to keep the relationship under wraps until they were sure there was a future. Now the secret’s out, Dotcom said he and his new love wanted to be a ‘normal couple’.

"We want to go to restaurants and watch a movie without anything to hide," he said.

"Before anything she is kind and very considerate and sweet. It's just great to spend time with her."

Dotcom founded illegal download website Megaupload, which US authorities shut down in early 2012. The site was believed to have generated $175 million in revenue.

After rising to prominence in the 1990s, Dotcom faced a number of charges, including embezzlement, racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud.

In December, a court ordered Dotcom's extradition to the US to face internet piracy charges. His legal team is appealing the decision.

Ms Donnelly is believed to be a third year business and law student at Auckland University of Technology.

Dotcom was born Kim Schmitz in Kiel. He changed his surname to Dotcom in 2005.

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