Eric Schmidt Biography: Books, Awards, Wife, Children, Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Google

Eric Emerson Schmidt is a prominent American businessman and computer engineer best known for his pivotal role in transforming Google into a global technology leader.

Joining Google in 2001 as CEO, Schmidt steered the company through its initial public offering in 2004 and significantly expanded its product offerings.

Under his leadership, Google introduced Android, which became the world’s most widely used mobile operating system.  

Schmidt served as CEO until 2011, then as executive chairman of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., until 2017.

Profile

• Full name: Eric Emerson Schmidt
• Date of birth: April 27, 1955
• Age: 70 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.
• Nationality: American, Cypriot
• Profession: Businessman, Computer Engineer
• Height: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
• Parents: Eleanor Schmidt (mother, psychologist), Wilson Emerson Schmidt (father, professor of international economics)
• Siblings: Two brothers
• Spouse: Wendy Susan Schmidt (married in 1980)
• Children: Sophie Schmidt, Alison Schmidt (deceased in 2017)
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Jewish
• Ethnicity: Cornish, English, German, Irish, Scottish, Swiss-German, Welsh
• Net worth: $23.2 billion

Early Life and Education

Eric Emerson Schmidt is now 70 years old. He was born on April 27, 1955, in Falls Church, Virginia, to Eleanor, a psychologist, and Wilson Emerson Schmidt, a professor of international economics.

Schmidt spent part of his childhood in Italy due to his father’s work, which influenced his global perspective. He graduated from Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia, in 1972, earning eight varsity letters in track and field, specifically in long-distance running.  

Schmidt attended Princeton University, initially majoring in architecture before switching to electrical engineering, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in 1976.

He then pursued graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in computer science in 1982.

Personal Life

Eric Schmidt married Wendy Susan Schmidt in 1980. The couple met while Wendy was editing Schmidt’s doctoral thesis during his time at the University of California, Berkeley. Wendy, born in 1955 in New Jersey, is a philanthropist and co-founder of Schmidt Futures. She has a background in journalism and interior design.  

Together, they have two daughters: Sophie and Alison. Tragically, Alison passed away in 2017.  Sophie, a well-traveled individual, founded Rest of World, a non-profit publication focused on technology stories from developing regions.

The Schmidts are actively involved in various philanthropic and tech-related initiatives. Eric Schmidt was raised in a Jewish family in Falls Church and Blacksburg, Virginia.  

Career

Eric Schmidt’s career began at Bell Labs in 1975, where he co-authored Lex, a software program to generate lexical analyzers for the Unix operating system. He later joined Sun Microsystems as the company’s first software manager and eventually became its chief technology officer. In 1997, Schmidt became the CEO of Novell, a company specializing in networking software.  

In 2001, he was recruited by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to be the CEO, a role he held until 2011. During his tenure, Schmidt oversaw the company’s expansion and the introduction of key products like Android. After stepping down as CEO, he served as executive chairman of Alphabet Inc. until 2017.  

Since then, Schmidt has been involved in various ventures, including serving as the CEO of Relativity Space, an aerospace manufacturing company, and founding the Special Competitive Studies Project to strengthen America’s global competitiveness in AI.

Awards

• Eric Schmidt has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the following:
• Member of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
• Chairman of the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence
• Co-author of best-selling books such as “The New Digital Age,” “How Google Works,” and “Trillion Dollar Coach”
• Recipient of the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement

Net Worth

Eric Schmidt’s net worth is estimated at $23.2 billion, according to Forbes. His wealth primarily stems from his leadership roles at Google and Alphabet Inc., as well as his investments in various technology ventures.  

Controversy

Eric Schmidt has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. In 2024, he sparked debate with comments about Google’s remote work policy, suggesting it was causing the company to lose the AI race to startups.

He later retracted these statements. Additionally, Schmidt has faced criticism for his involvement with the U.S. Department of Defence’s Defence Innovation Advisory Board, which raises concerns about the intersection of technology and national security.  

Social Media

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Books

• The New Digital Age: Transforming Nations, Businesses, and Our Lives
• How Google Works
• Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell
• The Age of AI: And Our Human Future
• Genesis: Artificial Intelligence, Hope, and the Human Spirit