Google’s former CEO, Eric Schmidt, has been accused of digital stalking by his former partner, Michelle Ritter. The news came out in an exclusive piece by the New York Post on October 20. She also made other claims of stalking, abusive behavior, and toxicity. They had differences in terms of business endeavors and getting access to Schmidt’s Bel Air house.
Eric Schmidt is married to Wendy Schmidt, a businesswoman and philanthropist. She founded the nonprofit organization, Schmidt Futures. The two met while studying at the same institute in Berkeley. They got married in 1980 and subsequently had two daughters, Alison and Sophie.
However, Alison died in 2017 due to a health issue. At the time, a memorial page was put up on the family’s foundation page, where a statement read:
“Our condolences to the Schmidt Family for the loss of their beloved daughter Alison, who recently passed away after a long illness. The family is making arrangements for a private memorial service.”
According to The Sun UK, Sophie has a publication that covers stories pertaining mostly to technology. What made her embark on this venture was her extensive travel experiences. Some of the places she visited are Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, among others. In 2013, she traveled to North Korea with Eric.
Eric Schmidt was the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, following which he served as the executive chairman from 2011 to 2015. Subsequently, he took on the role of a technology advisor in 2017, which he served until 2020.
More about Eric Schmidt and Michelle Ritter’s legal issue
Eric Schmidt and 31-year-old Michelle Ritter have been in a legal battle, which began in September 2024. The New York Post mentions that Ritter filed for a temporary restraining order against Eric in December 2024. She alleged that Eric kept her out of her AI-based startup company, of which Eric was a benefactor. The restraining order was withdrawn in less than a month.
Eric Schmidt filed an arbitration against Michelle for breaching a business agreement. He also criticized Michelle’s allegations, saying that they were false and that it was a misuse of the judicial system. As per the court documents, Ritter wrote:
“Please note Eric’s technical background. I literally cannot have a private phone call or send a private email without surveillance.”
She also said:
“Unfortunately, my former partner is extraordinarily powerful and capable and has used every mean[s] to block me from getting access to secure data, devices, finances, or businesses, or to simply live my life in peace.”
In her court filing from December, Ritter said that Eric Schmidt had a lot of power and used it to stop her from getting important things like data, money, and devices, making it hard for her to live peacefully. She also claimed that Schmidt tried to make her stay silent about any sexual assault or harassment and wanted her to sign a false statement saying those things never took place.