Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has been accused of stalking, abuse and putting her under an ‘absolute digital surveillance system’ by his 31-year-old ex-mistress.
Tech entrepreneur Michelle Ritter filed for a temporary domestic violence restraining order against the 70-year-old Schmidt late last year, accusing him of locking her out of the AI startup she founded with over $100million of Schmidt’s backing.
She filed shortly after pair reached a ‘written settlement agreement’ in December 2024, forcing Schmidt – whose net worth is said to be $44.8billion by Bloomberg – to make ‘substantial payments’ to Ritter over her initial accusations against Schmidt in September.
A week after the settlement, she filed for a restraining order over alleged domestic violence and other explosive allegations, according to documents obtained by The Daily Mail.
She accused him of using his money and experience in tech of leaving her nowhere to hide: ‘Please note Eric’s technical background. I literally cannot have a private phone call or send a private email without surveillance.’
Ritter also alleges Schmidt tried to place ‘a gag order on any sexual assault or harassment allegations and sign a knowingly false declaration that any such allegations never happened.’
On January 6, 2025, three weeks after filing, she withdrew after having come to a new settlement.
The ex-Google chief has long been rumored to be in an open marriage to his wife of 45 years, Wendy Schmidt.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (pictured right) has been accused of stalking, abuse and putting her under an ‘absolute digital surveillance system’ by his 31-year-old ex-mistress (pictured left)
Ritter filed for a temporary restraining order against the 70-year-old Schmidt late last year
The ex-Google chief (pictured right) has long been rumored to be in an open marriage to his wife of 45 years, Wendy Schmidt (pictured left)
He was the CEO of Google from 2001 until 2011, before serving as executive chairman of the company from 2011 until 2018.
An online bio describes Ritter as working as a cyber research associate at Stanford University when the couple met in 2021.
She is also said to have worked for the Department of Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and also worked in research for the Institute for State Effectiveness and for the Government of Afghanistan.
She has a BA in Economics, International Studies, and Political Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Known as something of a playboy, Page Six reports Schmidt’s list of past girlfriends includes PR executive Marcy Simon, journalist Kate Bohner, Council on Foreign Relations communications VP Lisa Shields, pianist Cho-San Nguyen and socialite Ulla Parker.
Schmidt called Ritter’s allegations ‘demonstrably false,’ adding it was ‘a blatant abuse of the judicial system’ in an 82-page response to Ritter submitted a month after her initial restraining order.
Most of his response has since been redacted, however.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ritter’s attorney, while a spokesperson for Schmidt declined comment.
This is a developing story.
