Michelle Ritter, 31, has accused former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, 70, of stalking, abuse, and exerting “toxic masculinity,” according to court documents filed last year. Ritter claims Schmidt subjected her to constant digital surveillance, monitoring her private communications and restricting her access to financial and business resources. The dispute arose amid financial disagreements and the collapse of an AI startup, Steel Perlot, in which Schmidt had invested $100 million.
Ritter reportedly had an on-and-off relationship with Schmidt while he remained married to his wife, Wendy. Late last year, she filed for a temporary restraining order, alleging that Schmidt’s technological expertise allowed him to surveil her emails and phone calls. “I literally cannot have a private phone call or send a private email without surveillance,” Ritter wrote in her court filing. She also claimed that Schmidt demanded she sign a gag order and a false statement denying any harassment or sexual assault incidents.
The two parties reached a written settlement in early December 2024, reportedly involving substantial payments to Ritter, though details remain sealed. Shortly after, Ritter filed a domestic violence restraining order but withdrew it three weeks later after an apparent new agreement. Schmidt’s legal team, led by attorney Patricia Glaser, has dismissed the allegations as “demonstrably false” and filed motions to seal much of the court material. A final hearing is scheduled for December in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Court filings also reveal that Ritter had been living at Schmidt’s 15,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion, purchased for $61 million from the Hilton family. The estate features 13 bedrooms, classic Hollywood architecture, and personalized decorations, including a red lip-shaped sofa, a guitar display case, and a rainbow-colored “Love” sign that had accompanied the couple to Burning Man. In her filing, Ritter requested exclusive access to the property and protection for her German Shepherd, Henry.
The case has drawn significant media attention due to Schmidt’s high-profile status and the allegations of digital surveillance and personal abuse. As proceedings continue, both parties appear to be negotiating behind sealed agreements, with the December hearing expected to clarify the legal and financial resolution.
