View source for Eric Schmidt

{{short description|American businessman and software engineer (born 1955)}}
{{similar names|Eric Schmidt (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Eric Schmidt
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KBE}}
| image              = Eric Schmidt at the 37th G8 Summit in Deauville 037 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Schmidt in 2011
| birth_name         = Eric Emerson Schmidt
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1955|4|27}}
| birth_place        = [[Falls Church, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| education          = {{Unbulleted list|[[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Engineering|BSE]])|[[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Master of Science|MS]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])}}
| occupation         = Businessman
| citizenship        = {{flatlist|
* [[United States]]
* [[Cyprus]]
}}
| years_active       = 1983–present
| title              = {{Unbulleted indent list|Co-founder, [[Schmidt Futures]]|Founder and chairman, [[Special Competitive Studies Project]]|CEO, [[Relativity Space]]|Limited partner, [[Washington Commanders]] ([[NFL]])}}
| employer           = 
| party              =
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Wendy Schmidt|Wendy Boyle]]|1980}}
| children           = {{Unbulleted list | [[Sophie Schmidt (publisher)|Sophie Schmidt]] | Alison Schmidt{{dagger|sup=yes}} }}
| website            = {{URL|ericschmidt.com}}
| module             = {{Infobox scientist
| child=yes
| field = [[Computer engineering]]
| thesis_year = 1982
| thesis_title = Controlling Large Software Development in a Distributed Environment
| thesis_url = http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/techReports/CSL-82-7_Controlling_Large_Software_Development_In_a_Distributed_Environment.pdf
| doctoral_advisor = [[Bob Fabry]]<br>[[Richard Fateman]]
}}
}}

'''Eric Emerson Schmidt''' (born April 27, 1955) is an [[Americans|American]] [[businessman]] and former [[computer engineer]] who was the chief executive officer of [[Google]] from 2001 to 2011 and the company's [[chairman|executive chairman]] from 2011 to 2015.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/eric-schmidt-is-stepping-down-as-the-executive-chairman-of-alphabet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221220109/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/eric-schmidt-is-stepping-down-as-the-executive-chairman-of-alphabet.html|archive-date=2017-12-21|title=Eric Schmidt is stepping down as the executive chairman of Alphabet |publisher=[[CNBC]]|date=December 21, 2017}}</ref> He also was the executive chairman of parent company [[Alphabet Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Biography for Dr. Eric Schmidt |url=https://plus.google.com/+EricSchmidt |access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803201226/https://plus.google.com/+EricSchmidt|archive-date=2016-08-03}}</ref><ref name="la1">{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/06/googles-eric-sc.html|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612145204/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/06/googles-eric-sc.html|archive-date=2008-06-12|title=Google's Eric Schmidt Talks About How to Run the World (Not That He Wants To) |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="corona" /> from 2015 to 2017,<ref name=":0" /> and technical advisor at Alphabet from 2017 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/eric-schmidt-who-led-googles-transformation-into-a-tech-giant-has-left-the-company/ |title=Eric Schmidt, who led Google's transformation into a tech giant, has left the company}}</ref> Since 2025, he has been the CEO of [[Relativity Space]], an aerospace manufacturing company.<ref name=nytrs /> As of 2025, he is the world's 35th wealthiest person according to ''[[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]]'' with an estimated [[net worth]] of {{USD}}48.3&nbsp;billion.<ref name=Bloomberg>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/eric-e-schmidt/ |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Eric Schmidt |magazine=Bloomberg |access-date=September 15, 2025}}</ref>

As an intern at [[Bell Labs]], Schmidt in 1975 was co-author of [[Lex (software)|Lex]],<ref name=lex1>{{cite web |first1=M.E. |last1=Lesk |first2=E. |last2=Schmidt |title=Lex – A Lexical Analyzer Generator |url=http://dinosaur.compilertools.net/lex/index.html |access-date=August 16, 2010 |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218002953/http://dinosaur.compilertools.net/lex/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://epaperpress.com/lexandyacc/download/lex.pdf |title=Lex – A Lexical Analyzer Generator |first1=M.E. |last1=Lesk |first2=E. |last2=Schmidt |date=July 21, 1975| work=Unix Time-Sharing System: Unix Programmer's Manual |edition= Seventh |volume=2B |publisher=bell-labs.com|access-date= December 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lesk |first1=M.E. |date=October 1975 |title=Lex – A Lexical Analyzer Generator |journal=Comp. Sci. Tech. Rep. No. 39 |location=Murray Hill, New Jersey |publisher=Bell Laboratories}}</ref> a software program to generate [[Lexical analysis|lexical analysers]] for the [[Unix]] [[Operating system|computer operating system]]. In 1983, he joined [[Sun Microsystems]] and worked in various roles. From 1997 to 2001, he was chief executive officer (CEO) of [[Novell]].<ref name="cnetNovell">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/novells-schmidt-joins-google-at-critical-time/ |title=Novell's Schmidt Joins Google at Critical Time |date=January 2, 2002 |publisher=CNET|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> Schmidt has been on various other boards in academia and industry, including the boards of trustees for [[Carnegie Mellon University]],<ref name="Carnegie Mellon University">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/society/2014/spring/google-vp-named-cmu-dean.shtml |title=Google VP Named CMU Dean |publisher=Carnegie Mellon University |access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> [[Apple Inc.|Apple]],<ref name="apple">{{cite press release |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2009/08/03Dr-Eric-Schmidt-Resigns-from-Apples-Board-of-Directors/ |title=Dr. Eric Schmidt Resigns from Apple's Board of Directors |date= August 3, 2009 |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref> [[Princeton University]],<ref name="princeton.edu">{{cite web |title=Princeton University Board of Trustees |url=https://www.princeton.edu/pub/profile-archive/profile200708/trustees/ |access-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202074418/http://www.princeton.edu/pub/profile-archive/profile200708/trustees/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Mayo Clinic]].<ref name="Mayo Clinic">{{cite web |title=Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees |publisher=[[Mayo Clinic]] |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/governance/trustees |access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref> He also owns a minority stake in the [[Washington Commanders]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).

In 2008, during his tenure as Google's chairman, Schmidt campaigned for [[Barack Obama]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/article/SB122446734650049199 |title=Google CEO Backs Obama |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 20, 2008 }}</ref> and subsequently became a member of Obama's [[President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]].<ref name="wsjBacksObama" /> In the meantime, Schmidt had left Google, and founded philanthropic venture [[Schmidt Futures]], in 2017. Under his tenure, Schmidt Futures provided the compensation for two science-office employees in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Schmidt became the first chair of the U.S. [[National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence]] in 2018, while keeping shares of [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]] stock, worth over $5.3 billion in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Google billionaire's fingerprints are all over Biden's science office |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/28/google-billionaire-joe-biden-science-office-00020712 |website=[[Politico]] |date=2022-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410002508/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/28/google-billionaire-joe-biden-science-office-00020712 |archive-date=2023-04-10 |url-status=live |last1=Thompson |first1=Alex}}</ref> In October 2021, Schmidt founded the [[Special Competitive Studies Project]] (SCSP) and has since served as its chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Frank |date=2021-10-05 |title=Eric Schmidt to Helm National Artificial Intelligence/Emerging Technologies Project |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/eric-schmidt-to-helm-national-artificial-intelligence-emerging-technologies-project/advanced-transformational-technology/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=Defense Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> Schmidt had a major influence on the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]]'s science policy after 2021, especially shaping policies on [[AI]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Alex |title=A Google billionaire's fingerprints are all over Biden's science office |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/28/google-billionaire-joe-biden-science-office-00020712 |website=Politico|date=March 28, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterjee |first=Mohar |title=DC's new AI matchmaker: Eric Schmidt |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/digital-future-daily/2024/05/09/dcs-new-ai-matchmaker-eric-schmidt-00157117 |website=Politico|date=May 9, 2024 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Schmidt was born in [[Falls Church, Virginia]], later moving to [[Blacksburg, Virginia]].<ref name=corona/><ref name="independent1"/> He is one of three sons of Eleanor, who had a master's degree in psychology, and Wilson Emerson Schmidt, a professor of [[international economics]] at [[Virginia Tech]] and [[Johns Hopkins University]], who worked at the [[U.S. Treasury Department]] during the [[Nixon Administration]].<ref name=corona>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQjF5Qa55aUC&q=%22eric+schmidt%22+eleanor&pg=PA52 |title=Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, and Google |author=Corona Brezina |date=July 15, 2012 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |access-date=December 30, 2012|isbn=9781448869244 }}</ref><ref name="independent1">{{cite news|author=Tim Walker |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/eric-schmidt-is-the-executive-chairman-of-google-really-the-arrogant-defender-of-tax-avoidance-that-his-critics-claim-8418153.html |title=Is The Executive Chairman of Google Really the Arrogant Defender of Tax Avoidance that His Critics Claim? |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=December 17, 2012 |location=London |date=December 14, 2012}}</ref> Schmidt spent part of his childhood in Italy as a result of his father's work and has stated that it had changed his outlook.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/conversations-with-tyler/eric-schmidt-tyler-cowen-google-ec33aa3e6dae|title=Eric Schmidt on the Life-Changing Magic of Systematizing, Scaling, and Saying Thanks (Ep. 53-Live)|last=Center|first=Mercatus|date=November 7, 2018|website=Medium|access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref>

Schmidt graduated from [[Yorktown High School (Virginia)|Yorktown High School]] in the Yorktown neighborhood of [[Arlington County, Virginia]], in 1972, after earning eight [[varsity letter]] awards in long-distance running.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCaffrey |first1=Scott |title=New Inductees Named to Yorktown Hall of Fame |url=https://www.insidenova.com/news/education/arlington/new-inductees-named-to-yorktown-hall-of-fame/article_841f69fe-e573-5b8e-a5c9-abc117eabbc1.html |access-date=29 December 2024 |work=INSIDENOVA.COM |date=15 May 2008 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://yorktownalums.org/hall_of_fame/inductees/schmidt_72.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121005612/http://www.yorktownalums.org/hall_of_fame/inductees/schmidt_72.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2008 |title=HOF – Eric Schmidt |publisher=Yorktownalums.org |access-date=December 19, 2012 }}</ref> He attended [[Princeton University]], starting as an architecture major and switching to [[electrical engineering]], earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in 1976.<ref name="google1955">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-oZY9GJW7YgC&q=ERIC+SCHMIDT+1955+father&pg=PT61|title=Googled: The End of the World As We Know It|author=Ken Auletta|access-date=December 17, 2012|isbn=9781101151402|date=November 3, 2009|publisher=Penguin }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last = Wolff| first = Josephine| title = University Library joins Google Book Search| work = The Daily Princetonian| date = February 6, 2007| url = http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2007/02/06/news/17198.shtml| access-date = May 28, 2008| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080518104345/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2007/02/06/news/17198.shtml| archive-date = May 18, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref>

From 1976 to 1980, Schmidt resided at the [[International House Berkeley]], where he met his future wife, [[Wendy Schmidt|Wendy Boyle]]. In 1979, at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], Schmidt earned an EECS M.S. degree for designing and implementing a [[computer network|network]] ([[Berknet]]) linking the campus computer center with the CS and [[computer engineering|EECS]] departments.<ref>{{cite web |author= Eric Schmidt |title= The Berkeley Network – A Retrospective |publisher= Computer Science Division, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley |year= 1979 |url= http://www.krsaborio.net/research/acrobat/1980s/8002_bsd.pdf |archive-url= https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080528104711/http://www.krsaborio.net/research/acrobat/1980s/8002_bsd.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 28, 2008 |access-date= June 14, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> There, he also earned a PhD degree in 1982 in EECS; [[Computer Engineering]], with a dissertation about the problems of managing distributed software development and tools for solving these problems.<ref name="schmidtphd">{{cite thesis |degree=PhD |first=Eric|last=Schmidt |title=Controlling Large Software Development in a Distributed Environment |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |year=1982 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/303230196|author-link= Eric Schmidt |id={{ProQuest|303230196}} }}</ref>

==Career==

===Early career===
Early in his career, Schmidt held a series of technical positions with [[Information technology|IT]] companies including Byzromotti Design, [[Bell Labs]] (in research and development),<ref name="independent1" /> [[Zilog]], and Palo Alto Research Center ([[PARC (company)|PARC]]).

During his summers at Bell Labs, he and [[Mike Lesk]] wrote [[Lex (software)|Lex]],<ref name="google1955" /><ref name=lex1/> a program used in [[compiler]] construction that generates [[Lexical analysis|lexical-analyzers]] from [[Regular expression|regular-expression]] descriptions.

===Sun Microsystems===
In 1983, Schmidt joined [[Sun Microsystems]] as its first software manager.<ref name="independent1"/> He rose to become director of software engineering, vice president and general manager of the software products division, vice president of the general systems group, and president of Sun Technology Enterprises.<ref>{{cite press release |title= Dr. Eric Schmidt Appointed Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Novell, Inc.  |date= March 18, 1998 |publisher= Sun Microsystems |url= http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/1997-03/sunflash.970318.23634.xml |url-status= dead |archive-date= May 22, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080522085645/http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/1997-03/sunflash.970318.23634.xml |access-date= June 14, 2011}}</ref>

During his time at Sun, he was the target of two notable [[April Fool's Day]] pranks.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/cs9FjfSv6Ss Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140506010054/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9FjfSv6Ss Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite news |title= Eric Schmidt April Fool Cars 1986 & 2008 |work= News |date= May 16, 2008 |via= YouTube |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9FjfSv6Ss }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Gqr15o3MZJ0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100901080827/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqr15o3MZJ0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite news |title= April Fools Prank on Eric Schmidt from 1986 |work= News |date= July 22, 2008 |via= YouTube |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqr15o3MZJ0 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Xe0m3A8cBn8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151017110708/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe0m3A8cBn8 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite news |title= Eric Schmidt April Fools Prank – MrRedusers |work= News |date= March 3, 2010 |via= YouTube |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe0m3A8cBn8 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the first, his office was taken apart and rebuilt on a platform in the middle of a pond, complete with a working phone and workstation on the corporate Ethernet network. The next year, a working [[Volkswagen Beetle]] was taken apart and re-assembled in his office.

===Novell===
In April 1997, Schmidt became the CEO and chairman of the board of [[Novell]]. He presided over a period of decline at Novell where its [[Internetwork Packet Exchange|IPX protocol]] was being replaced by open TCP/IP products, while at the same time Microsoft was shipping free TCP/IP stacks in Windows 95, making Novell much less profitable. In 2001, he departed after the acquisition of [[Cambridge Technology Partners]].<ref name="cnetNovell"/>

===Google===
[[File:Schmidt-Brin-Page-20080520.jpg|thumb|Left to right, Eric Schmidt, [[Sergey Brin]] and [[Larry Page]], 2008]]

Google founders [[Larry Page]] and [[Sergey Brin]] interviewed Schmidt. Impressed by him,<ref>"CEO Eric Eric Schmidt stood out because he 'was the only candidate who had been to [[Burning Man]].'" From [http://askpang.typepad.com/relevant_history/2003/04/markoff_and_zac.html "Markoff and Zachary on Google"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040705131610/http://askpang.typepad.com/relevant_history/2003/04/markoff_and_zac.html|date=July 5, 2004}}; quoted are [[John Markoff]] and Gregg Zachary. See also ''[[Business Week]]''<nowiki/>'s [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_39/b3851606.htm "Eric Eric Schmidt, Google"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207234000/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_39/b3851606.htm|date=December 7, 2006}} from September 29, 2003: "One of the first orders of business was joining his new 20-something colleagues at [[Burning Man]], a free-form festival of artistic self-expression held in a Nevada desert lake bed. Sitting in his office shortly after his return, tanned and slightly weary, Eric Schmidt couldn't have been happier. "They're keeping me young," he declared."</ref> they recruited Schmidt to run their company in 2001 under the guidance of [[venture capital]]ists [[John Doerr]] and [[Michael Moritz]].

In March 2001, Schmidt joined Google's board of directors as chair, and became the company's CEO in August 2001. At Google, Schmidt shared responsibility for Google's daily operations with founders Page and Brin. Prior to the Google [[initial public offering]], Schmidt had responsibilities typically assigned to the CEO of a public company and focused on the management of the vice presidents and the sales organization.<ref name=googleS1>{{cite web |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312504142742/ds1a.htm |title=Google Form S-1 Registration Statement|page=29 |publisher=[[United States Securities and Exchange Commission|EDGAR]] |date=August 18, 2004}}</ref> According to Google, Schmidt's job responsibilities included "building the corporate infrastructure needed to maintain Google's rapid growth as a company and on ensuring that quality remains high while the product development cycle times are kept to a minimum."<ref name=googleinfo>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/corporate/execs.html#eric |title=Google Management: Eric Schmidt, Executive |publisher=Google Inc |access-date= June 14, 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google (left) in conversation with Nik Gowing (11051254154).jpg|thumb|Schmidt as executive chair of Google, speaking with [[Nik Gowing]]]]

Upon being hired at Google, Eric Schmidt was paid a salary of $250,000 and an annual performance bonus. He was granted 14,331,703 shares of Class B common stock at $0.30 per share and 426,892 shares of Series C preferred stock at purchase price of $2.34.<ref>{{cite book |title= Googled: The End of the World as We Know It |author= Ken Auletta |publisher= Virgin Books |year= 2011 |isbn= 978-0-7535-2243-1 }}</ref>

In 2004, Schmidt and the Google founders agreed to a base [[one-dollar salary|salary of US$1]] (which continued through 2010) with other compensation of $557,465 in 2006,<ref name="proxy06">{{cite web |title= Google Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement |work= Schedule 14A |publisher= United States Securities and Exchange Commission |date= April 6, 2007 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312507073756/ddef14a.htm#rom97745_70 |access-date= June 15, 2011}}</ref> $508,763 in 2008, and $243,661 in 2009. He did not receive any additional stock or options in 2009 or 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title= Google Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement |work= Schedule 14A |publisher= United States Securities and Exchange Commission |date= March 29, 2010 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312510070028/ddef14a.htm#rom57429_84 |access-date= June 14, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="proxy10">{{cite web |title= Google Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement |work= Schedule 14A |publisher= United States Securities and Exchange Commission |date= April 20, 2011 |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000119312511103802/ddef14a.htm#rom154220_62 |access-date= June 15, 2011 }}</ref>
Most of his compensation was for "personal security" and charters of private aircraft.<ref name="proxy10"/>

In 2007, ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'' ranked Schmidt as the first on its list of the 50 most important people on the Web, along with Google co-founders Page and Brin.<ref name="50mostimportant">Null, Christopher. "[http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129301-page,1/article.html The 50 Most Important People on the Web] ". ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]].'' March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307073927/http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129301-page,1/article.html |date=March 7, 2007 }}</ref>

In its 2011 'World's Billionaires' list, ''[[Forbes]]'' ranked Schmidt as the 136th-richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of $7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/eric-schmidt|title=Eric Schmidt|magazine=[[Forbes]]|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>

On January 20, 2011, Google announced that Schmidt would step down as the CEO of Google but would take new title as executive chairman of the company and act as an adviser to co-founders Page and Brin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eric-Schmidt|title=Eric Schmidt {{!}} Biography & Facts|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=April 15, 2019}}</ref> Google gave him a $100&nbsp;million equity award in 2011 when he stepped down as CEO.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70M1V120110123 | work=Reuters | first=Clare | last=Baldwin | author-link=Clare Baldwin | title=Google to give outgoing CEO Schmidt US$100&nbsp;million | date=January 23, 2011}}</ref> On April 4, 2011, Page replaced Schmidt as the CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title= Larry Page is officially Google CEO again |work= Silicon Valley / San Jose Business |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/04/04/page-is-officially-google-ceo-again.html |date= April 4, 2011 |access-date= June 14, 2011 }}</ref>

On December 21, 2017, Schmidt announced he would be stepping down as the executive chairman of Alphabet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/eric-schmidt-stepping-down-from-alphabet-2017-12|title=Eric Schmidt is stepping down as executive chairman of Alphabet, Google's parent company|last=Weinberger|first=Matt|date=December 21, 2017|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=January 26, 2019}}</ref><ref name="yahoo2017">[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/alphabets-eric-schmidt-step-down-224243196.html Alphabet's Eric Schmidt to step down as executive chairman], Reuters, via finance.yahoo.com, December 21, 2017.</ref> Schmidt stated that "[[Larry Page|Larry]], [[Sergey Brin|Sergey]], [[Sundar Pichai|Sundar]] and I all believe that the time is right in Alphabet's evolution for this transition."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/21/eric-schmidt-stepping-down-as-alphabets-executive-chairman-to-become-a-technical-advisor/|title=Eric Schmidt stepping down as Alphabet's executive chairman to become a 'technical advisor'|last=Heater|first=Brian|date=December 21, 2017|website=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=January 26, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2020, Schmidt left his post as technical advisor of Alphabet after 19 years with the company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eric Schmidt, who led Google's transformation into a tech giant, has left the company|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/eric-schmidt-who-led-googles-transformation-into-a-tech-giant-has-left-the-company/|last=Nieva|first=Richard|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref>

====Department of Defense====
In March 2016, it was announced that Schmidt would chair a new advisory board for the Department of Defense,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/2/11146884/eric-schmidt-department-of-defense-board-chair|title=Eric Schmidt will chair a Defense Department advisory board|last=Lecher|first=Colin|date=March 2, 2016|website=The Verge|access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> titled the [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://innovation.defense.gov/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116070354/http://innovation.defense.gov/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2018|title=The Defense Innovation Board Holds Quarterly Public Meeting at Silicon Valley|website=innovation.defense.gov|access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> The advisory board serves as a forum connecting mainstays in the technology sector with those in the Pentagon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2016/03/02/google-executive-schmidt-to-head-new-dod-advisory-board/|title=Google Executive Schmidt To Head New DoD Advisory Board|last=Mehta|first=Aaron|date=August 8, 2017|website=Defense News|access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>

To avoid potential conflicts of interest within the role, where Schmidt retained his role as technical adviser to Alphabet, and where Google's bidding for the multi-million dollar Pentagon cloud contract, the [[Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure]], or JEDI, was ongoing: Schmidt screened emails and other communications, stating, "'There’s a rule: I'm not allowed to be briefed' about Google or Alphabet business as it relates to the Defense Department".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/04/eric-schmidt-didnt-know-google-was-working-pentagons-ai-project/147546/|title=Eric Schmidt Didn't Know That Google Was Working the Pentagon's AI Project|website=Defense One|date=April 18, 2018 |access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref> He exited the position November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/schmidt-departs-chairman-defense-innovation-board|title=Schmidt departs as chairman of Defense Innovation Board|date=November 11, 2020|website=Inside Defense|access-date=November 11, 2020}}</ref>

From 2019 to 2021, Schmidt co-chaired the [[National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence]] with [[Robert O. Work]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 31, 2019|title=National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Initial Report|url=https://www.nscai.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NSCAI_Initial-Report-to-Congress_July-2019.pdf|access-date=May 12, 2021|website=National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=March 2, 2021|title=U.S. is 'not prepared to defend or compete in the A.I. era,' says expert group chaired by Eric Schmidt|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/02/us-not-prepared-to-defend-or-compete-in-ai-era-says-eric-schmidt-group.html|access-date=March 3, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2, 2021|title=AI commission sees 'extraordinary' support to stand up tech-focused service academy|url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/artificial-intelligence/2021/03/ai-commission-sees-extraordinary-support-to-stand-up-tech-focused-service-academy/|access-date=May 12, 2021|website=Federal News Network|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Role in illegal non-recruiting agreements ====
While working at Google, Schmidt was involved by early 2005<ref>Case 5:11-cv-02509-LHK Document 531 Filed 10/24/13 Page 26-27 "February 18, 2005 ... Eric Schmidt “got directly involved and firmly stopped all efforts to recruit anyone from Apple”</ref> in activities<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/04/24/apple-google-agree-to-settle-lawsuit-alleging-hiring-conspiracy/ |work=Chicago Tribune |title=Apple, Google agree to settle lawsuit alleging hiring conspiracy |date= April 24, 2014 |access-date= January 28, 2016 }}</ref> that later became the subject of the [[High-Tech Employee Antitrust Litigation]] case that resulted in a settlement of $415&nbsp;million paid by [[Adobe Systems|Adobe]], [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], Google and [[Intel]] to employees. In one March, 2007 incident, after receiving a complaint from [[Steve Jobs]] of Apple, Schmidt sent an email to Google's HR department saying; "I believe we have a policy of no recruiting from Apple and this is a direct inbound request. Can you get this stopped and let me know why this is happening? I will need to send a response back to Apple quickly so please let me know as soon as you can. Thanks Eric".<ref name=Pando /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-google-others-settle-anti-poaching-lawsuit-for-415-million/|title=Apple, Google, others settle antipoaching lawsuit for $415&nbsp;million|last=Whitney|first=Lance|date=September 3, 2015|publisher=[[CNET]]|access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref> Schmidt's email led to a recruiter for Google being "terminated within the hour" for not having adhered to the illegal scheme. Under Schmidt, there was a "Do Not Call list" of companies Google would avoid recruiting from.<ref name=Pando>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Ames |website=[[PandoDaily]] |url=https://pando.com/2014/03/25/newly-unsealed-documents-show-steve-jobs-brutally-callous-response-after-getting-a-google-employee-fired/ |title=Newly unsealed documents show Steve Jobs' brutal response after getting a Google employee fired |date=March 25, 2014}}</ref> According to a court filing, another 2005<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blagdon |first=Jeff |date=2013-01-23 |title=The no-hire paper trail Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt didn't want you to see |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/23/3906310/the-no-hire-paper-trail-steve-jobs-and-eric-schmidt-didnt-want-you-to-see |access-date=2025-10-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> email exchange shows Google's human resources director asking Schmidt about sharing its no-cold-call agreements with competitors. Schmidt responded that he preferred it be shared "verbally[,] since I don't want to create a paper trail over which we can be sued later?"<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-google-recruitment-emails-lawsuit-2014-1|title=Emails Show Apple's Steve Jobs And Google's Eric Schmidt Allegedly Conspired To Screw Over Employees|last=Edwards|first=Jim|date=January 24, 2014|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=January 27, 2019}}</ref>

===Apple===
On August 28, 2006, Schmidt was elected to [[Apple Inc.]]'s board of directors, a position he held until August 2009.<ref name=apple/><ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/29bod.html  |title= Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt Joins Apple's Board of Directors |date= August 29, 2006 |publisher= Apple Inc. |access-date= June 15, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110623054333/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/29bod.html |archive-date= June 23, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

===Broad Institute===
Schmidt was chairman of the board of directors at [[Broad Institute]] from 2021 until 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-22 |title=Eric Schmidt appointed incoming Chair of the Broad Institute Board of Directors |url=https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/eric-schmidt-appointed-incoming-chair-broad-institute-board-directors |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Broad Institute News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-17 |title=Seth Klarman selected Chair of the Broad Institute Board of Directors |url=https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/seth-klarman-selected-chair-broad-institute-board-directors |access-date=2025-09-05 |website=Broad Institute News |language=en}}</ref>

===Other ventures===
Schmidt sat on the boards of trustees of [[Carnegie Mellon University]] and [[Princeton University]].<ref name="Carnegie Mellon University"/><ref name="princeton.edu"/> He taught at [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]] in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Joe|title=High Flier|url=http://alumni.berkeley.edu/news/california-magazine/spring-2012-piracy/high-flier|work=California Magazine|access-date=September 25, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927170447/http://alumni.berkeley.edu/news/california-magazine/spring-2012-piracy/high-flier|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=unknown|first=Sam|title=Google CEO Named Chairman of Washington Think Tank|url=http://philanthropy.com/blogs/government-and-politics/google-ceo-named-chairman-of-washington-think-tank/10700|magazine=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |access-date= September 25, 2013|date=February 7, 2008}}</ref> Schmidt serves on the boards of the [[Institute for Advanced Study]] in Princeton, the [[Khan Academy]], and ''[[The Economist]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Google's Eric Schmidt makes rare visit to Myanmar|url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/03/22/news/google-eric-schmidt-myanmar/|publisher=CNN|access-date= September 25, 2013|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kinetz|first=Erika|title=Eric Schmidt Urges Myanmar To Embrace Free Speech|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/eric-schmidt-myanmar-free-speech_n_2929600.html|agency=Associated Press|access-date= September 25, 2013|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

[[New America (organization)|New America]] is a non-profit public-policy institute and think tank, founded in 1999. Schmidt succeeded founding chairman [[James Fallows]] in 2008 and served as chairman until 2016.<ref>New America Foundation, [http://www.newamerica.net/about/board Board of Directors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221152152/http://newamerica.net/about/board |date=December 21, 2010 }}. Retrieved May 11, 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vogel |first1=Kenneth |title=Google Critic Ousted From Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/us/politics/eric-schmidt-google-new-america.html |website=The New York Times |date=August 30, 2017}}</ref>

Founded in 2010 by Schmidt and Dror Berman, '''Innovation Endeavors''' is an early-stage [[venture capital]]. The fund, based in [[Palo Alto, California]], invested in companies such as [[Mashape]], [[Uber]], [[Quixey]], [[Gogobot]], [[BillGuard]], and [[Formlabs]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110912000226/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/eric-schmidts-newest-vc-fund-07282011.html Eric Schmidt's Newest VC Fund]. ''Business Week'' (July 28, 2011). Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Companies |url=http://innovationendeavors.com/companies/ |publisher=Innovation Endeavors website |access-date=September 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924183547/http://innovationendeavors.com/companies/ |archive-date=September 24, 2013 }}</ref>

In July 2020, Schmidt started working with the U.S. government to create a tech college as part of an initiative to educate future coders, cyber-security experts and scientists.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Conklin|first=Audrey|date=July 22, 2020|title=Former Google CEO leads federal tech college initiative|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/google-eric-schmidt-federal-tech-college|access-date=July 23, 2020|website=FOXBusiness|language=en-US}}</ref>

In August 2020, Schmidt launched the podcast ''Reimagine with Eric Schmidt''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 25, 2020|title=Former Google CEO on why he launched 'Reimagine with Eric Schmidt' podcast|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/08/25/former-google-ceo-on-why-he-launched-reimagine-with-eric-schmidt-podcast.html|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Reimagine with Eric Schmidt|url=https://www.compassmedianetworks.com/index.php/album/reimagine-with-eric-schmidt/|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=Compass Media Networks}}</ref> In December 2021, Schmidt joined [[Chainlink (blockchain)|Chainlink]] Labs as a strategic advisor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scipioni |first=Jade |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt says he's invested 'a little bit' in crypto — but he's more interested in the future of Web3 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/28/ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-on-investing-in-cryptocurrencies-and-web3.html|access-date=2024-12-19 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref> In October 2022, he co-authored a piece titled "America Could Lose the Tech Contest With China" for ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'' with Ylli Bajraktari, former executive director of the U.S. [[National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Eric |last2=Bajraktari |first2=Yll |date=2022-09-08 |title=America Could Lose the Tech Contest With China |language=en-US |work=Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/america-losing-its-tech-contest-china |access-date=2023-06-15 |issn=0015-7120}}</ref> In March 2023, Schmidt testified at a [[U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability]] hearing regarding AI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Advances in AI: Are We Ready For a Tech Revolution? |url=https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/advances-in-ai-are-we-ready-for-a-tech-revolution/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability |language=en}}</ref> He has also invested in aerospace-related AI startups, including Rebellion Defense,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Metz|first2=Cade |title='I Could Solve Most of Your Problems': Eric Schmidt's Pentagon Offensive |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/technology/eric-schmidt-pentagon-google.html |website=The New York Times|date=May 2, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brewster |first1=Thomas |last2=Emerson |first2=Sarah |last3=Jeans |first3=David |title=How Rebellion Defense, The $1 Billion Military AI Startup Hyped By Silicon Valley, Wound Up In A Nosedive |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidjeans/2023/12/22/how-rebellion-defense-the-1-billion-military-ai-startup-hyped-by-silicon-valley-wound-up-in-a-nosedive/ |website=Forbes}}</ref> Istari,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Will |title=Eric Schmidt Is Building the Perfect AI War-Fighting Machine |url=https://www.wired.com/story/eric-schmidt-is-building-the-perfect-ai-war-fighting-machine/ |website=Wired Business}}</ref> and White Stork.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Emerson |first1=Sarah |last2=Nieva |first2=Richard |title=Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt Is Working On A Secret Military Drone Project |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahemerson/2024/01/09/ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-is-working-on-a-secret-military-drone-project/?sh=573cb9d06c6b |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Emerson |first1=Sarah |last2=Nieva |first2=Richard |title=Eric Schmidt Is Secretly Testing AI Military Drones In A Wealthy Silicon Valley Suburb |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahemerson/2024/06/06/eric-schmidt-is-secretly-testing-ai-military-drones-in-a-wealthy-silicon-valley-suburb/ |website=Forbes}}</ref> In June 2023, Schmidt also invested in Keeta, a startup developing a cross-border payments platform using proprietary ledger technology.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Christine |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Eric Schmidt backs Keeta, a startup working to make cross-border payments 'as easy as Venmo' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/06/eric-schmidt-keeta-cross-border-payments-fintech/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719071802/https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/06/eric-schmidt-keeta-cross-border-payments-fintech/ |archive-date=July 19, 2025 |access-date=July 19, 2025 |website=TechCrunch}}</ref>

In 2022, Schmidt was appointed to the [[National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology]], a legislative commission charged with making policy recommendations to Congress and the Executive Branch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawmakers round out membership of new emerging biotech commission {{!}} InsideDefense.com |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/lawmakers-round-out-membership-new-emerging-biotech-commission |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=insidedefense.com}}</ref>

Schmidt has been the chairman of [[SandboxAQ]], a Palo Alto-based quantum computing and AI company that spun off from [[Alphabet Inc.]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Martin |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Eric Schmidt And Marc Benioff Are Backing A New Company That Aims To Protect Businesses Against Quantum Cyberattacks |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/martingiles/2022/03/23/eric-schmidt-and-marc-benioff-are-backing-quantum-company-sandboxaq/ |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=G |first1=Priyanka |last2=Hu |first2=Krystal |date=December 18, 2024 |title=Quantum AI startup SandboxAQ valued at $5.3 bln after $300 mln fundraising |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/alphabet-spinoff-sandboxaq-valued-53-bln-after-300-mln-fundraising-2024-12-18/ |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

In 2023, Schmidt was a part of an investment group led by [[Josh Harris (businessman)|Josh Harris]] that purchased the [[Washington Commanders]], an American football team belonging to the [[National Football League]] (NFL), for $6.05 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maske |first1=Mark |last2=Jhabvala |first2=Nicki |title=NFL owners approve sale of Commanders from Daniel Snyder to Josh Harris |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/20/washington-commanders-sale/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=July 21, 2023 |date=July 20, 2023}}</ref> In March 2025, Schmidt took over as CEO of [[Relativity Space]], an aerospace manufacturing company, after acquiring a controlling stake in the company.<ref name=nytrs>{{Cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Chang |first2=Kenneth |date=March 10, 2025 |title=Eric Schmidt Joins Relativity Space, a Rocket Start-Up, as C.E.O. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/technology/eric-schmidt-relativity-space.html |access-date=March 11, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[File:Eric Schmidt and Ash Carter.jpeg|thumbnail|right|Eric Schmidt and Ash Carter meet about [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board|Innovation Advisory Board]] for the DoD.|335x335px]]

== Political activity ==
Schmidt was an informal advisor and major donor to [[Barack Obama]]'s [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|2008 presidential campaign]], and began campaigning the week of October 19, 2008, on behalf of the candidate.<ref name="wsjBacksObama">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122446734650049199|title=Google CEO Backs Obama|last=Langley|first=Monica|author2=Jessica E. Vascellaro|date=October 20, 2008 | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> He was mentioned as a possible candidate for the [[Chief Technology Officer of the United States|Chief Technology Officer]] position, which Obama created in his administration,<ref>{{cite news |title=Google CEO Eric Schmidt to stump for Obama |author= Mary Anne Ostrom |newspaper= San Jose Mercury News |date=October 21, 2008 |url= http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10769458 |access-date= June 15, 2011 }}</ref> and Obama considered him for [[United States Secretary of Commerce|Commerce Secretary]].<ref name=Carney>Carney, Timothy (April 2, 2011) [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/1292034/google-not-proud-of-its-politicking/ Google not proud of its politicking], ''[[The Washington Examiner]]''</ref> After Obama won in 2008, Schmidt became a member of [[Presidential transition of Barack Obama|President Obama's transition advisory board]] and then a member of the [[United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology]] (PCAST).<ref>[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast/about/members Membership list of PCAST] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121060447/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast/about/members |date=January 21, 2017 }}. White House. Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref> Schmidt has served on Google's [[lobbying|government relations]] team.

Schmidt has proposed that the easiest way to solve all of the domestic problems of the United States at once is by a stimulus program that rewards [[renewable energy]] and, over time, attempts to replace [[fossil fuel]]s with renewable energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/1022.html |title=Gore/Alliance for Climate Protection: All-In for Plug-Ins |publisher=Calcars.org |access-date=March 21, 2010}}</ref>

Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] appointed Schmidt as chairman of the [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board|DoD Innovation Advisory Board]] announced March 2, 2016. It will be modeled like the [[Defense Business Board]] and will facilitate the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] at becoming more innovative and adaptive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/684366/pentagon-to-establish-defense-innovation-advisory-board|title=Pentagon to Establish Defense Innovation Advisory Board|access-date=March 26, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319043436/http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/684366/pentagon-to-establish-defense-innovation-advisory-board|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Schmidt is an investor in [[The Groundwork]], a start-up company associated with [[Hillary Clinton]]'s [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]].<ref name="qzthestealthyericschmidt">{{cite news|last1=Fernholz|first1=Tim|last2=Pasick|first2=Adam|title=The stealthy, Eric Schmidt-backed startup that's working to put Hillary Clinton in the White House|url=http://qz.com/520652/groundwork-eric-schmidt-startup-working-for-hillary-clinton-campaign/|access-date=October 30, 2016|work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|date=October 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="bloomberghowanericschmidtbackedstartup">{{cite news|last1=Higgins|first1=Tim|title=How an Eric Schmidt-Backed Startup May Help Clinton Get Elected|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-19/clinton-bets-on-tech-strategy-to-defeat-trump|access-date=October 30, 2016|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=May 19, 2016}}</ref> For example, it charged the campaign $177,000 in the second quarter of 2015.<ref name="qzthestealthyericschmidt"/> By May 2016, the campaign had spent $500,000 on it.<ref name="bloomberghowanericschmidtbackedstartup"/>

Schmidt is an investor in Timshel, another start up company associated with Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.<ref name="qz.com">{{cite web|last1=Fernholz|first1=Tim|title=Hacked emails show Eric Schmidt played a crucial role in Team Hillary's election tech|url=https://qz.com/823922/eric-schmidt-played-a-crucial-role-in-team-hillarys-election-tech/|website=Quartz|date=November 2016 |access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref> Timshel is the parent company of The Groundwork.<ref name="qz.com"/>

== Philanthropy ==

=== Schmidt Family Foundation and Schmidt Ocean Institute===
{{main|Schmidt Family Foundation}}
In 2006, Eric Schmidt and [[Wendy Schmidt]] established the Schmidt Family Foundation,<ref>{{cite news|last=Pollard|first=James|title=Philanthropist Wendy Schmidt insists science and immersive media can inspire action for the planet|url=https://apnews.com/article/wendy-schmidt-family-foundation-google-1f013d3f244b5248b61b78292fc059d1|work=Associated Press}}</ref> to support the sustainable use of natural resources.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Two Santa Barbara Philanthropists Stepped in to Preserve Tri-County Produce|url=https://www.independent.com/2025/04/21/how-two-santa-barbara-philanthropists-stepped-in-to-preserve-tri-county-produce/|work=The Independent}}</ref> The foundation's subsidiaries include ReMain Nantucket and the Marine Science and Technology Foundation; its main charitable program is the 11th Hour Project. The foundation has also awarded grants to the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] and the Energy Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=11th Hour Project Grantees|url=http://www.11thhourproject.org/grantees|publisher=11th Hour Project website|access-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref>

The foundation is the main funder of the [[Schmidt Ocean Institute]], which supports oceanographic research by operating the [[RV Falkor Too|''R/V Falkor (too)'']]<ref name="SOInews">{{cite web| url=https://schmidtocean.org/soi-acquires-new-research-vessel/| title=Schmidt Ocean Institute acquires new research vessel to expand ability to explore, research the ocean| author=Carlie Wiener| date=March 23, 2021| access-date=2021-03-30| df=dmy-all}}</ref> and previously the {{ship|RV|Falkor}} and ''Lone Ranger'', a converted salvage tug.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2013/08/01/google-chairman-eric-schmidts-falkor-a-dream-ship-for-ocean-researchers-makes-san-francisco-debut/| title=Google Chairman Eric Schmidt's Falkor, A Dream Ship For Ocean Researchers, Makes San Francisco Debut| author=Kerry A. Dolan| magazine=Forbes| date=August 1, 2013| access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="e503">{{cite web | title=LIFE AFTER GOOGLE: Eric Schmidt's $60 Million Ocean Adventure | website=Business Insider | date=2011-02-15 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/life-after-google-eric-schmidts-60-million-ocean-adventure-2011-2 | access-date=2025-09-02}}</ref>

The Schmidts, working with Hart Howerton, a San Francisco architectural firm that specializes in large-scale land use, have inaugurated several projects on the island of [[Nantucket]] that seek to sustain the unique character of the island and to minimize the impact of seasonal visitation on the island's core community.

Mrs. Schmidt offered the prize purse of the [[Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE]], a challenge award for the efficient capturing of [[crude oil]] from [[seawater]] motivated by the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher = [[Yahoo! Finance]] | url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Winning-Teams-Announced-in-prnews-4209160515.html| title=Winning Teams Announced in the $1.4 Million Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE | date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

The foundation also donated $10&nbsp;million to the [[Monterey Bay Aquarium]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/02/20/googles-eric-schmidt-and-wife-give-10m-to-monterey-bay-aquariums-seafood-watch/|title=Google's Eric Schmidt and Wife Give $10m to Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch|first=Jason|last=Hoppin|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>

In 2022, the Schmidts gave $12.6 million to their alma mater, [[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]], to establish the Schmidt Center for Data Science and the Environment. They have also been contributors to Berkeley's [[International House Berkeley|International House]] and its [[Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/uc-berkeley-receives-12.6-million-from-eric-and-wendy-schmidt|title=UC Berkeley receives $12.6 million from Eric and Wendy Schmidt|website=Philanthropy News Digest|date=March 29, 2022}}</ref>

=== Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund ===
In 2009, Eric and Wendy Schmidt endowed the Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund at [[Princeton University]] with $25&nbsp;million. The Fund's purpose is to support research and technology in the natural sciences and engineering, encouraging collaboration across disciplines.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund|url=https://www.princeton.edu/research/dean/funding/eric-and-wendy-schmidt-tr/|publisher=Princeton University website|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021192541/http://www.princeton.edu/research/dean/funding/eric-and-wendy-schmidt-tr/|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Schmidt Fund to advance science through support for transformative technology|url=https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S25/54/00M94/|publisher=Princeton University website|access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Eric Schmidt: Princeton Receives $25M From Google CEO For Tech Fund|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/14/eric-schmidt-princeton-re_n_321016.html|work=HuffPost|access-date=October 21, 2013|date=October 14, 2009|first=Bianca|last=Bosker}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Google Boss Pledges $25-Million for Princeton Tech Fund|url=http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/google-boss-pledges-25-million-for-princeton-tech-fund/18422|magazine=The Chronicle of Philanthropy|access-date=October 21, 2013|date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> It awarded $1.2&nbsp;million in grants in 2010 and $1.7&nbsp;million in grants in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Parker|first=Hilary|title=Inaugural Schmidt Fund awards enable innovative explorations in sensors and electronics|url=https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S29/26/06S78/|publisher=Princeton University news archive|access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zandonella|first=Catherine|title=Schmidt Fund awards support transformative technologies|url=https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S33/61/70M72/|publisher=Princeton University news archive|access-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

=== Schmidt Science Fellows ===
Created in partnership with the [[Rhodes House|Rhodes Trust]], the [[Schmidt Science Fellows]] program is part of a $100&nbsp;million commitment to drive scientific leadership and interdisciplinary research.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/eric-and-wendy-schmidt-announce-first-class-of-schmidt-science-fellows/|title=Eric and Wendy Schmidt announce first class of Schmidt Science Fellows – Schmidt Science Fellows|date=April 23, 2018|work=Schmidt Science Fellows|access-date=October 26, 2018}}</ref> The program features a Global Meeting Series including exclusive sessions at world-leading institutions including [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], and [[Harvard University|Harvard]]. Fellows receive a stipend to participate in postdoctoral study which differs from their existing expertise.

=== Rise ===
An initiative of [[Schmidt Futures]] and the Rhodes Trust, which aims to increase the opportunity for exceptional young people worldwide to serve others throughout their lives. The program, which will find and elevate young people between the ages of 15 and 17 from around the world, will be designed to encourage a lifetime of service and learning by providing support that could include scholarships, career services, and funding opportunities<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/fmr-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-donating-1b |title=Fomer &#91;sic&#93; Google CEO Eric Schmidt donating $1B to philanthropic causes |first=Brittany |last=De Lea |date=November 13, 2019 |website=[[Fox Business]]}}</ref>

== Public positions ==

===Tax avoidance===

Schmidt has claimed that [[Criticism of Google#Tax evasion|Google's use of artificial distinctions]]{{Broken anchor|date=2025-08-02|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Criticism of Google#Tax evasion|reason= The anchor (Tax evasion) [[Special:Diff/1301406267|has been deleted]].|diff_id=1301406267}} to avoid paying billions of [[pound sterling|pounds]] in [[corporate tax|corporation tax]] otherwise owed by its UK operations<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/may/16/google-told-by-mp-you-do-do-evil|title=MP on Google tax avoidance scheme: 'I think that you do evil'|first1=Simon|last1=Bowers|first2=Rajeev|last2=Syal|date=May 16, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> is "capitalism"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9739039/Googles-tax-avoidance-is-called-capitalism-says-chairman-Eric-Schmidt.html|title=Google's tax avoidance is called 'capitalism', says chairman Eric Schmidt|date=December 12, 2012|last1=Staff|first1=Telegraph}}</ref> and that he was "very proud of it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/google-boss-im-very-proud-of-our-tax-avoidance-scheme-8411974.html|title=Google boss: I'm very proud of our tax avoidance scheme|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=December 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Privacy===
Publicly Schmidt stated that, as paraphrased by ''[[CNN]]''/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'', "there has to be a trade-off between privacy concerns and functionality."<ref name=Westhoven>Westhoven, Jennifer. "[https://money.cnn.com/2005/08/05/technology/google_cnet/ CNET: We've been blackballed by Google]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130929111803/https://money.cnn.com/2005/08/05/technology/google_cnet/ Archive]) ''[[CNN]]'' ''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''. August 5, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2013. "Schmidt is officially Google's chief champion and defender, and has publicly said that there has to be a trade-off between privacy concerns and functionality. He has brought up Google's corporate motto, "Don't Be Evil" in those defenses. "</ref> His explanations referenced "[[Don't Be Evil]]".<ref name=Westhoven/>

During an interview aired on December 3, 2009, on the CNBC documentary "Inside the Mind of Google," Schmidt was asked, "People are treating Google like their most trusted friend. Should they be?" He replied: "I think judgment matters. If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. But if you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines, including Google, do retain this information for some time. And it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the [[Patriot Act]]. It is possible that information could be made available to the authorities."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/A6e7wfDHzew Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100107045241/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6e7wfDHzew Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6e7wfDHzew |title=Google CEO Eric Schmidt on privacy |via= YouTube |date=December 8, 2009 |access-date=March 21, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ft.com/content/efc1281e-e687-11de-98b1-00144feab49a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/efc1281e-e687-11de-98b1-00144feab49a.html |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |title= Media – Facebook must be weary of changing the rules |work=Financial Times |date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=March 21, 2010}}</ref>

At the [[Techonomy Media|Techonomy]] conference on August 4, 2010, Schmidt expressed that technology is good. And he said that the only way to manage the challenges is "much greater transparency and no anonymity." Schmidt also stated that in an era of asymmetric threats, "true anonymity is too dangerous."<ref>{{cite web| title=Google's Eric Schmidt: Society not ready for technology| url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20012704-56.html| date=August 4, 2010| publisher=[[CNET]]| access-date=August 7, 2010| archive-date=October 15, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015225603/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-20012704-56.html| url-status=dead}}</ref> However, at the 2013 [[Hay Festival]], Schmidt expressed concern that sharing of personal information was too rampant and could have a negative effect, particularly on teenagers, stating that "we have never had a generation with a full photographic, digital record of what they did", declaring that "We have a point at which we [Google] forget information we know about you because it is the right thing to do. There are situations in life that it's better that they don't exist."<ref>Furness, Hannah. (May 25, 2013) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/eric-schmidt/10080596/Hay-Festival-2013-Teenagers-mistakes-will-stay-with-them-forever-warns-Google-chief-Eric-Schmidt.html]. ''The Daily Telegraph''. Retrieved May 26, 2013.</ref>

In 2013, Schmidt stated that the government surveillance in the United States was the "nature of our society" and that he was not going to "pass judgment on that".<ref>Holpuch, Amanda. "[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/eric-schmidt-google-nsa-surveillance Google's Eric Schmidt says government spying is 'the nature of our society']." ''[[The Guardian]]''. Friday September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.</ref> However, on the revelation that the NSA has been secretly spying on Google's data centers worldwide, he called the practice "outrageous" and criticized the NSA's collection of Americans phone records.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Franceschi-Bicchierai|first=Lorenzo|title=Google's Schmidt: NSA Spying on Data Centers Is 'Outrageous'|url=https://mashable.com/2013/11/04/eric-schmidt-nsa-spying-wall-street-journal/|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=Mashable| date=November 4, 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Network neutrality ===
[[File:Eric Schmidt MSC 2018 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Schmidt during the [[Munich Security Conference]] 2018]]
In August 2010, Schmidt clarified his company's views on [[network neutrality]]: "I want to be clear what we mean by Net neutrality: What we mean is if you have one data type like video, you don't discriminate against one person's video in favor of another. But it's okay to discriminate across different types. So you could prioritize voice over video. And there is general agreement with [[Verizon]] and Google on that issue."<ref>{{cite news| title= Why Google and Verizon's Net neutrality deal affects you| url= https://money.cnn.com/2010/08/05/technology/google_verizon_net_neutrality_rules/index.htm | date=August 5, 2010| work= CNNMoney | publisher=CNN | access-date=August 6, 2010 | first=David | last=Goldman}}</ref>

===Influence of Internet usage in North Korea===
In January 2013, Schmidt and [[Jared Cohen]], director of [[Google Ideas]] visited [[DPRK|North Korea]] along with former [[New Mexico]] governor [[Bill Richardson]].<ref name=npr1>{{cite web|title=Google Execs Say 'The Power of Information Is Underrated'|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/04/23/178620215/google-execs-say-the-power-of-information-is-underrated|work=All Tech Considered|publisher=NPR|access-date=August 19, 2013|date=April 23, 2013|quote=Google executives Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen recently returned from a highly publicized trip to North Korea. They discuss the role of the Internet in more repressive countries.}}</ref> The trip was highly publicized and controversial due to the ongoing tension between North Korea and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Schmidt's visit to North Korea revealed limits, benefits of private diplomacy |website=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/editorial/2013/01/24/google-official-eric-schmidt-visit-north-korea-revealed-limits-benefits-private-diplomacy/MkK8zEVNmz7qKobPnjOhXO/story.html}}</ref> On August 10, 2013, North Korea announced an indigenous smartphone, named [[Arirang (smartphone)|Arirang]], that may be using the Google Android operating system.<ref name=phone1>{{cite web|title=Skepticism as NKorea shows home-grown smartphone|url=http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NKOREA_SMARTPHONES?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-16-09-45-51|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819074628/http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NKOREA_SMARTPHONES?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-16-09-45-51|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2013|work=AP Newswire|publisher=Stars & Stripes|access-date=August 19, 2013|author=Youkyung Lee|date=August 16, 2013|quote=The Korean Central News Agency's Aug. 10 report said the factory began manufacturing smartphones 'a few days ago' ... Kim Mun-gu, a manager at a South Korean mobile phone company, said the Arirang smartphone appears to be using the Android operating system. He said the photos aren't convincing as proof the North is manufacturing the phones}}</ref>

===Advocating open Internet use in Myanmar===
In March 2013, Schmidt visited [[Myanmar]], which had been ruled by a [[military junta]] for decades and was transitioning to a democracy. During his visit, Schmidt spoke in favor of free and open Internet use in the country, and was scheduled to meet with the country's president.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hla Tun|first=Aung|title=Google's Schmidt tells Myanmar a free Internet can anchor reform|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-google-idUSBRE92L0E420130322|work=Reuters|access-date=October 25, 2013|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Riley|first=Charles|title=Google's Eric Schmidt makes rare visit to Burma|url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/03/22/news/google-eric-schmidt-myanmar/|publisher=CNN|access-date=October 25, 2013|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kinetz|first=Erika|title=Eric Schmidt Urges Myanmar To Embrace Free Speech|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/eric-schmidt-myanmar-free-speech_n_2929600.html|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 25, 2013|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

=== Technology advocacy ===
In January 2015, Schmidt and [[Jared Cohen]], director of [[Google Ideas]], met with [[Pope Francis]] to discuss technology and society. This was the first meeting between the Pope and a technology leader, which was subsequently followed by other tech leaders visiting the [[Vatican City|Vatican]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pope Francis meets with Google executive, Eric Schmidt|url=https://www.romereports.com/2016/01/15/pope-francis-meets-with-google-executive-eric-schmidt|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=www.romereports.com|date=January 15, 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Bowles|first1=Stephanie Kirchgaessner Nellie|last2=Francisco|first2=Danny Yadron in San|date=January 13, 2016|title=Pope Francis to join Google's Eric Schmidt in rare tech industry meeting|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/13/pope-francis-google-alphabet-eric-schmidt-vatican-meeting-us-tech-ceo|access-date=June 19, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shead|first=Sam|title=Google's Eric Schmidt is going to meet the Pope|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/googles-eric-schmidt-is-about-to-meet-the-pope-at-the-vatican-2016-1|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Alexander|first=Harriet|date=January 14, 2016|title=Pope Francis 'to meet Google's Eric Schmidt at Vatican'|work=Daily Telegraph|language=en-GB|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/12098729/Pope-Francis-to-meet-Googles-Eric-Schmidt-at-Vatican.html|access-date=June 19, 2020|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pope Francis Is Meeting With Alphabet's Eric Schmidt|url=https://fortune.com/2016/01/14/pope-francis-google-eric-schmidt/|access-date=June 19, 2020|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>

=== Authored books and publications ===
====''The New Digital Age''====
In 2013, Schmidt and [[Jared Cohen]], director of the [[Google Ideas]] think tank, published ''The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business'', which discusses the geopolitical implications of increasingly widespread Internet use and access to information. The book was inspired by an essay in ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'' magazine the two co-wrote in 2010.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cohen|first=Jared|title=The Digital Disruption – Connectivity and the Diffusion of Power|journal=Foreign Affairs|issue=November/December 2010|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66781/eric-schmidt-and-jared-cohen/the-digital-disruption|access-date=October 25, 2013|author2=Eric Schmidt|date=December 2010|volume=89 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Leslie|title=Book by 2 From Google Takes a Deep Look at the Web|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/a-book-by-two-from-google-takes-a-deep-look-at-the-web/|work=The New York Times Media Decoder blog|access-date=October 25, 2013|date=December 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Shankland|first=Stephen|title=Google execs' 'New Digital Age' resists cyber-siren song|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57580877-93/google-execs-new-digital-age-resists-cyber-siren-song/|publisher=CNET|access-date=October 25, 2013}}</ref> He also wrote the preface to ''The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs'', by [[William Henry Draper III|William H. Draper, III]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Eric%20Schmidt  |title=The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs |website=Amazon |date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>

====''How Google Works''====
In 2014, Schmidt co-authored the New York Times best-selling book ''[[How Google Works]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/business-books/list.html|title= Best Sellers|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 28, 2014}}</ref> with [[Jonathan Rosenberg (technologist)|Jonathan Rosenberg]], former Senior Vice President of Products at Google and current advisor to Google CEO [[Larry Page]], and Alan Eagle.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eric-schmidt/how-google-works/9781455582341/|title=How Google Works|date=June 27, 2017|isbn=9781455582341|last1=Schmidt|first1=Eric|last2=Rosenberg|first2=Jonathan|publisher=Grand Central|access-date=September 18, 2014|archive-date=July 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730110745/http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eric-schmidt/how-google-works/9781455582341/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The book is a collection of the business management lessons learned over the course of Schmidt and Rosenberg's time leading Google.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/how-google-works-by-eric-schmidt-and-jonathan-rosenberg-book-review-9726444.html |title= How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, book review |author= Max Wallis |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date = September 11, 2014}}</ref> In his book, Eric Schmidt argues that successful companies in the technology-driven internet age should attract smart and creative employees and create an environment where they can thrive. He argues that the traditional business rules that make a company successful have changed; companies should maximize freedom and speed, and decision-making should not lie in the hands of the few. Schmidt also emphasizes that individuals and small teams can have a massive impact on innovation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=D'Onfro|first1=Jillian|title=Former Google CEO: Here's How To Build A $300 Billion Company|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/management-advice-from-googles-eric-schmidt-how-google-works-2014-10?op=1|access-date=October 14, 2014|website=Business Insider|date=October 14, 2014}}</ref>

==== ''The Age of AI: And Our Human Future'' ====
In 2021, Schmidt co-authored "''The Age of AI: And Our Human Future''" with [[Henry Kissinger]] and [[Daniel Huttenlocher]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=2021-11-21 |title=A Robot Wrote This Book Review |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/21/books/review/the-age-of-ai-henry-kissinger-eric-schmidt-daniel-huttenlocher.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last3=Huttenlocher |first3=Daniel|last1=  Kissinger|first1= Henry A.|last2= Schmidt|first2= Eric|date=2019-07-11 |title=The Metamorphosis |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/08/henry-kissinger-the-metamorphosis-ai/592771/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref>

=== Schmidt's Law ===
Dating back to early 1990s and dubbed "Schmidt's Law" by [[George Gilder]] when Schmidt predicted that the network will become the computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~gaj1/bandgg.html|title=The Bandwidth Tidal Wave|access-date=March 14, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625083730/http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~gaj1/bandgg.html|archive-date=June 25, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/07/08/how-googles-chrome-os-has-deep-roots-in-eric-schimdts-past/|title=How Google's Chrome OS has deep roots in Eric Schmidt's past|work=VentureBeat |date=July 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.discovery.org/a/35 | title=The Bandwidth Tidal Wave| date=December 1994}}</ref> Schmidt's Law states: "When the network becomes as fast as the [[backplane]] of your computer, the computer hollows out, its components dispersing across the Web, its value migrating to search and sort functions."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/01/09/telecosm-jdsu-intel-pf-soapbox-in_gg_0109soapbox_inl.html|title=Ten Laws of the Telecosm Redux|first=George|last=Gilder|website=[[Forbes]]|date=January 9, 2007}}</ref>

=== Social networking services ===
In October 2020, Schmidt stated that [[social networking service]]s are "amplifiers for idiots and crazy people" and that this was not what the [[Big Tech]] firms [[Unintended consequences|intended when creating them]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hollister|first=Sean|date=October 21, 2020|title=Eric Schmidt, who bought YouTube for a premium, thinks social networks are "amplifiers for idiots"|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/21/21527525/google-ceo-eric-schmidt-says-social-networks-idiots-youtube|access-date=October 22, 2020|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=De Vynck|first=Gerrit|date=October 21, 2020|title=Former Google CEO Calls Social Networks 'Amplifiers for Idiots'|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-21/former-google-ceo-calls-social-networks-amplifiers-for-idiots|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=[[Bloomberg News]]|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|language=en}}</ref>

=== Silicon Valley entrepreneurship ===
During a 2024 interview with [[Stanford University]] students, Schmidt commented on Silicon Valley's probable use of AI in the future, commenting that a hypothetical [[startup company]] could release a product that infringes on [[intellectual property]], and simply hire lawyers to solve any legal problems if it became successful.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heath |first1=Alex |date=15 August 2024 |title=Ex-Google CEO says successful AI startups can steal IP and hire lawyers to 'clean up the mess' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/14/24220658/google-eric-schmidt-stanford-talk-ai-startups-openai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002230412/https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/14/24220658/google-eric-schmidt-stanford-talk-ai-startups-openai |archive-date=2024-10-02 |work=The Verge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zeff |first1=Devin Coldewey, Maxwell |date=14 August 2024 |title=Video of Eric Schmidt blaming remote work for Google's woes mysteriously vanishes |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/video-of-eric-schmidt-blaming-remote-work-for-googles-woes-mysteriously-vanishes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915203836/https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/video-of-eric-schmidt-blaming-remote-work-for-googles-woes-mysteriously-vanishes/ |archive-date=2024-09-15 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref> This concept was compared to the [[Silicon Valley]] mentality of "move fast and break things", which had recently led to lawsuits against [[OpenAI]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quiroz-Gutierrez |first1=Marco |title=Ex-Google CEO Schmidt advised students to steal TikTok's IP and 'clean up the mess' later |url=https://fortune.com/2024/08/15/ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-stanford-ai-advice-steal-ip-hire-lawyers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816005233/https://fortune.com/2024/08/15/ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-stanford-ai-advice-steal-ip-hire-lawyers/ |archive-date=2024-08-16 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref>

==Other work==

===Art collection===
Schmidt was on the list of ''[[ARTnews]]''{{'s}} 200 top art collectors in 2008.<ref>[http://www.artnews.com/2008/07/01/the-artnews-200-top-collectors-2008/ ARTnews, The ARTnews 200 Top Collectors, 2008]. ''ARTnews''. (July 1, 2008). Retrieved September 27, 2012.</ref> Schmidt denied that he was an art collector, despite his involvement in art, in 2019.<ref>[https://tim.blog/2019/04/11/the-tim-ferriss-show-transcripts-eric-schmidt-367/ Tim Ferriss podcast: Transcript of Interiview with Eric Schmidt]. tim.blog (April 11, 2019). Retrieved April 29, 2019.</ref>

===Bilderberg Group===
He is a member of the [[Bilderberg Group]] and attends the annual Bilderberg conferences regularly.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/latest-meetings.html | title=Latest Meetings | publisher=BilderbergMeetings.org | access-date=July 31, 2016 | archive-date=July 23, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723052859/http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/latest-meetings.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://publicintelligence.net/category/documents/bilderberg/bilderberg-participant-lists/ | title=Bilderberg Participant Lists | publisher=PublicIntelligence.net | access-date=July 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>Skelton, Charlie, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/16/bilderberg-2011-tipping-point "Bilderberg 2011: The tipping point"], ''The Guardian'' (UK), June 16, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |title=Bilderberg 2011 list of participants |publisher=BilderbergMeetings.org |access-date=August 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828210925/http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |archive-date=August 28, 2011 }}</ref> He also has a listed membership with the [[Trilateral Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trilateral Commission: Executive Committee|url=http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_12-13(3).pdf|access-date=January 8, 2014|archive-date=December 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228185546/http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_12-13(3).pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Berggruen Institute===
Schmidt is an active member of the [[Berggruen Institute]]'s 21st Century Council, and its board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Berggruen Institute|url=http://governance.berggruen.org/councils/21st-century-council/members|access-date=December 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106173236/http://governance.berggruen.org/councils/21st-century-council/members|archive-date=January 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Blankfqld, Keren, [https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/focus-nicolas-berggruen-karstadt-thick-long-man-for-all-reasons.html "A Man For All Reasons"], ''[[Forbes]],'' December 12, 2010. "Berggruen plucked from his diverse connections, including such boldface names as former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, philanthropist Eli Broad and Google Chief Eric Schmidt."</ref>

===Dialog===
Schmidt has participated in [[Dialog (organization)|Dialog]], a secretive, invite-only social club founded by [[Peter Thiel]] and [[Auren Hoffman]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |title=Scoop: Dialog, a secretive forum, plans D.C.-area campus |website=Axios |date=2025-08-07 |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/dialog-secret-network-thiel-hoffman |access-date=2025-09-01}}</ref>

===World Economic forum===
Schmidt has been active at the [[World Economic Forum]] in [[Davos]], serving as a Co-Chair of the 2015 Annual Meeting held under the theme “The New Global Context.”<ref>{{cite web |title=45th Annual Meeting to Convene under Theme "The New Global Context", as World Faces Critical Global Challenges |website=World Economic Forum |date=2015-01-14 |url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2015/01/45th-annual-meeting-to-convene-under-theme-the-new-global-context-as-world-faces-critical-global-challenges/ |access-date=2025-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Davos 2014: Google's Schmidt warning on jobs |website=BBC News |date=2014-01-23 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-25872006 |access-date=2025-09-01}}</ref>

===Acting===

In 2014, he had a cameo appearance in the film ''[[Dumb and Dumber To]]'', starring [[Jim Carrey]] and [[Jeff Daniels]]. He also had a cameo appearance in the pilot episode "[[Minimum Viable Product (Silicon Valley)|Minimum Viable Product]]" of the [[HBO]] show ''[[Silicon Valley (TV series)|Silicon Valley]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peters |first=Emma |title=All the 'Silicon Valley' cameos that only tech geeks will notice |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-best-silicon-valley-cameos-so-far-211155435.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250429170321/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-best-silicon-valley-cameos-so-far-211155435.html |archive-date=2025-04-29 |access-date=2025-07-08 |work=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In June 1980, Schmidt married [[Wendy Schmidt|Wendy Susan Boyle]] (born 1955 in [[Short Hills, New Jersey]]). They lived in [[Atherton, California|Atherton]], California, in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Loose Ends: Presidential performance |date= October 6, 1999 |work= Almanac News |url= http://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/1999/1999_10_06.loose06.html |access-date= November 10, 2011}}</ref> They have a daughter, [[Sophie Schmidt (publisher)|Sophie]],<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/fashion/nantucket-benefits-from-a-google-long-distance-marriage.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title=You Could Google Her|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 16, 2014|first=Laura M.|last=Holson|date=August 29, 2012}}</ref> and had another, Alison, who died in 2017 from an illness.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2017/6/9/15773234/alphabet-eric-schmidt-daughter-alison-passed-away|title= Eric Schmidt's daughter Alison has passed away|work=[[Recode]]|date=June 9, 2017|access-date=March 6, 2023|first=Tess|last=Townsend}} type of illness not specified in citation, only that it was an illness</ref> A number of Schmidt's extramarital relationships have attracted publicity, but he and his wife continue joint philanthropic efforts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-01-06 |title=The internet's sweet revenge on Google chairman Eric Schmidt |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/eric-schmidt-google-scandal |access-date=2022-04-11 |work=British GQ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/eric-schmidts-love-life-has-seen-many-women-here-are-some-2631945|title=Eric Schmidt's Love Life Has Seen Many Women: Here Are Some|newspaper=International Business Times|date=December 22, 2017|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-11-16-eric-schmidt-s-youth-talent-competition-part-of-1b-effort-kicks-off-with-unusual-app|title=Eric and Wendy Schmidt's Youth Talent Competition, Part of $1B Effort, Kicks Off With Unusual App|newspaper=EdSurge|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref>

In January 2013, Schmidt visited [[North Korea]] with his daughter Sophie,<ref>{{cite news| url= https://money.cnn.com/2013/01/20/technology/schmidt-google-north-korea/index.html|publisher= CNN| title= Eric Schmidt's daughter details North Korea visit| date=January 20, 2013}}</ref> [[Jared Cohen]], and former [[New Mexico]] governor [[Bill Richardson]].<ref name=cc1>{{cite web|title=Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen at the Commonwealth Club|url=http://www.climate-one.org/transcripts/googles-eric-schmidt-and-jared-cohen|publisher=Climate One|access-date=August 19, 2013|author=Greg Dalton|location=San Francisco|date=May 2013|archive-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225035849/http://www.climate-one.org/transcripts/googles-eric-schmidt-and-jared-cohen|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="CSM Feb 4">{{cite journal|title=A quiet envoy to the hermit kingdom of North Korea|journal=The Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2013/0204/A-quiet-envoy-to-the-hermit-kingdom-of-North-Korea|access-date=August 11, 2013|author=Donald Kirk|date=February 4, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Schmidt acquired a 20% stake in [[D. E. Shaw & Co.]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2015/04/23/eric-schmidt-buys-20-stake-in-quant-hedge-fund-de-shaw/?sh=574350412bd4|work=Forbes| title=Eric Schmidt Buys 20% Stake In Quant Hedge Fund DE Shaw| date=April 23, 2015}}</ref> Schmidt is also an investor in CargoMetrics, another quant hedge fund.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Wigglesworth|first=Robin|date=June 5, 2016|title=Billionaires back new shipping quant fund|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2d7580ee-29d2-11e6-8b18-91555f2f4fde |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/2d7580ee-29d2-11e6-8b18-91555f2f4fde |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref>

In April 2015, Schmidt delivered the commencement address at [[Virginia Tech]], located in Schmidt's childhood home of [[Blacksburg, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Owczarski |first1=Mrk |title=Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt to deliver 2015 University Commencement address May 15 |url=https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/04/040915-president-universityspeaker.html |website=Virginia Tech |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref> This came on the heels of Schmidt making a $2 million donation to Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. Schmidt's philanthropy is the result of his longstanding friendship with Virginia Tech's former president [[Paul Torgersen]]. His donation funded the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean's Chair in Engineering.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nystrom |first1=Lynn |title=Google's Eric Schmidt makes a lasting gift to Virginia Tech |url=https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2006/11/2006-616.html |website=Virginia Tech |access-date=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2020, Schmidt purchased Montecito Mansion, a 22,000-square-foot estate overlooking [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], for $30.8 million.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Clarke|first=Katherine|date=September 8, 2020|title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Pays $30.8 Million for Montecito Mansion|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/eric-schmidt-montecito-home-11599600051|access-date=October 8, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

In November 2020, ''[[Recode]]'' reported that Schmidt was finalizing his plan to become a citizen of [[Cyprus]]. He is one of the highest-profile people to take advantage of the [[immigrant investor programs]] that offers a "passport-for-sale". This passport can be used to enter and live in any country of the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/11/9/21547055/eric-schmidt-google-citizen-cyprus-european-union |title=The former CEO of Google has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus |work=[[Recode]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=November 10, 2020 }}</ref>

In 2024, Bloomberg estimated his [[net worth]] to be {{USD}}37.8 billion.<ref name=Bloomberg/> In 2024, Schmidt was appointed an [[Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] for his services to philanthropy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary awards to foreign nationals in 2024 |date=2024 |publisher=Gov.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honorary-british-awards-to-foreign-nationals-2024/honorary-awards-to-foreign-nationals-in-2024 |access-date=19 December 2024 }}</ref>

In 2023 and 2024, {{CO2}} emissions from flights taken by Schmidt's [[Gulfstream 650]] jet placed him at the top of lists of private jet owners who generated the most carbon emissions.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Goodier |first1=Michael |last2=Hoog |first2=Niels de |date=2023-11-21 |title=The jet set: 200 celebrities' aircraft have flown for combined total of 11 years since 2022 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/21/the-jet-set-200-celebrities-aircraft-have-flown-for-combined-total-of-11-years-since-2022 |access-date=2024-12-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-04 |title='Shocking' celebrity leaderboard for private jet usage in 2024 released and it's blowing people's minds |url=https://www.unilad.com/celebrity/news/celebrity-leaderboard-private-jet-usage-2024-325838-20241204 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=UNILAD |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-17 |title=Celebrity Private Jet Leaderboard December 2024 |url=https://celebrityprivatejettracker.com/leaderboard/#gref |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=CelebrityPrivateJetTracker.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Internet|Biography}}
* [[List of billionaires]]
* [[70/20/10 Model#70/20/10 in Managing Innovation|70/20/10 Model]] – business model advocated by Schmidt<ref>{{cite news |title= The 70 Percent Solution: Google CEO Eric Schmidt gives us his golden rules for managing innovation |author= John Battelle |date= December 1, 2005 |work= CNN Money magazine |url= https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/12/01/8364616/index.htm |access-date= August 12, 2011 }}</ref>
* [[RechargeIT]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Eric E. Schmidt}}
*{{C-SPAN|49441}}
* {{IMDb name|2978079}}
* {{Guardian topic}}
* {{YouTube|wHF83ROalOo|Eric Schmidt speaks as part of NASA 50 years Lecture series}} (January 17, 2008)
* [http://www.mobileworldlive.com/on-stage/mwc/mobile-world-congress-2010-keynote-eric-schmidt-ceo-google/ Mobile World Congress 2010 Keynote: Eric Schmidt, CEO, Google] (February 2010)

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{{s-bus}}
{{s-bef
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{{s-ttl
| title = Chief executive officer of [[Google]]
| years = 2001–2011
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}}
|-
{{s-new|office
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Executive chairman of Google
| years = 2011–2017
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[John L. Hennessy]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Apple Inc.}}
{{Alphabet Inc.}}
{{Google LLC}}
{{IEEE Founders Medal}}
{{Novell}}
{{Washington Commanders owners}}
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