Former Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt, 70, has been accused of stalking, abuse and “absolute digital surveillance” by his 31-year-old former partner, Michelle Ritter, according to court filings first reported by the The New York Post.
Ritter alleges that Schmidt, who led Google from 2001 to 2011 and served as executive chairman until 2018, exploited his wealth, influence and technological expertise to monitor her communications and restrict her access to business and personal resources.
The complaint arises out of a relationship that reportedly began in 2021 and ended in 2024. Ahead of a hearing in December in Los Angeles, Ritter filed for a domestic violence restraining order in December 2024, and later withdrew it after an amended settlement agreement. The latest filings allege Schmidt has since violated that agreement.
According to Ritter’s filing, Schmidt invested about $100 million in her AI-focused startup, Steel Perlot and later locked her out of its website and business operations.
She further claimed he demanded she sign a gag order covering sexual-harassment claims and submit a false declaration denying any such allegations.
In response, Schmidt’s legal team filed an 82-page document branding Ritter’s claims as “demonstrably false” and “a blatant abuse of the judicial system”. The team also moved to seal large portions of the court record ahead of the upcoming hearing.
Eric Schmidt – Michelle Ritter saga
Ritter’s complaint outlines several alleged actions by Schmidt including surveillance of her phone and email, economic control through business resources and property, and even following of her parents by private investigators.
“I literally cannot have a private phone call or send a private email without surveillance,” she wrote in the filing.
The legal battle also centres on a Bel Air mansion, purchased by Schmidt for about $61 million, which Ritter claims she was living in. She seeks continued access to the property and protection for her German Shepherd dog named Henry.
The dispute has also extended to business matters linked to AI-startup Steel Perlot. Court papers state that Schmidt invested about $100 million in the company and later restricted her access to its operations and website. Despite the legal conflict, Schmidt remains listed as a major backer of the firm.
This case could prompt scrutiny over how prominent tech-industry figures engage in both business and personal arenas. It also raises questions about the oversight of investments tied to personal relationships, particularly when those relationships become adversarial.
Both parties have declined to comment publicly beyond legal filings. A court hearing is scheduled for early December in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
