Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, is facing serious allegations from his former partner, Michelle Ritter. The 31-year-old tech entrepreneur has accused Schmidt, now 70, of stalking, abuse, and placing her under what she describes as an “absolute digital surveillance system.”
Ritter, who co-founded an AI startup with significant backing from Schmidt—reportedly over $100 million—filed for a temporary domestic violence restraining order against him late last year. The dispute escalated after Schmidt allegedly locked her out of the company they established together, Steel Perlot.
The legal confrontation began to unfold in September 2024, when Schmidt initiated arbitration against Ritter, claiming she had violated a business agreement concerning their shared venture. Shortly thereafter, the two reached a “written settlement agreement” in December 2024. This agreement required Schmidt, whose fortune is estimated at $44.8 billion according to Bloomberg, to make substantial payments to Ritter following her initial accusations.
However, tensions escalated just a week after the settlement, as Ritter pursued a restraining order citing alleged domestic violence and other serious claims. Documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal her accusations, including her assertion that Schmidt leveraged his expertise and financial power in technology to monitor her every move. She stated, “Please note Eric’s technical background. I literally cannot have a private phone call or send a private email without surveillance.”
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 with 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.
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)
Last December, Ritter accused Schmidt of having her parents followed. When police were called and questioned the investigators, one of them claimed to work for a ‘billionaire’s private security.’
‘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,’ she claimed.
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, while Schmidt’s legal team asked that the court documents be sealed.
However, a source who worked for Ritter’s startup told The Daily Mail that this is retaliation for Schmidt’s initial arbitration filing.
‘Eric invested a lot in her company and unfortunately it didn’t work out as they hoped and she seems to be trying to avoid her obligations under their subsequent business agreement,’ the source said.
The former couple have remained in legal tangles ever since the settlement over Schmidt’s arbitration filing.
Ritter has been denied in multiple attempts to terminate the arbitration and prevent the court from enforcing the business agreement between her and Ritter, including one on September 8.
Schmidt has filed a motion to enforce the arbitration which will be heard next on December 4.
The ex-Google chief has long been rumored to be in an open marriage to his wife of 45 years, Wendy Schmidt.
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.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ritter’s attorney, while a spokesperson for Schmidt declined comment.
