Eric Schmidt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Schmidt
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Schmidt in 2011
|
|
| Born |
Eric Emerson Schmidt
April 27, 1955 Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.
|
| Citizenship | |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Title |
|
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Wendy Boyle
(m. 1980) |
| Children |
|
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer engineering |
| Thesis | Controlling Large Software Development in a Distributed Environment (1982) |
| Doctoral advisor | Bob Fabry Richard Fateman |
Eric Emerson Schmidt, born on April 27, 1955, is an American businessman and computer expert. He is well-known for being the chief executive officer (CEO) of Google from 2001 to 2011. After that, he served as the company's executive chairman until 2015. He also held the role of executive chairman for Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., from 2015 to 2017.
In 2025, he became the CEO of Relativity Space, a company that builds rockets. Eric Schmidt is also one of the wealthiest people in the world. He has been involved with many important companies and organizations throughout his career.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eric Schmidt was born in Falls Church, Virginia. His family later moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. His father was a professor of international economics. Because of his father's work, Eric spent some of his childhood in Italy. He said this experience changed how he saw the world.
Schmidt went to Yorktown High School and graduated in 1972. He was very good at long-distance running. He then attended Princeton University, where he first studied architecture. He later switched to electrical engineering and earned his degree in 1976.
He continued his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1979, he earned a master's degree. He designed a computer network called Berknet. In 1982, he earned his PhD. His research focused on managing large software projects.
Career Highlights
Eric Schmidt has had a long and successful career in technology. He started in technical roles at various IT companies.
Early Work in Tech
During his summers at Bell Labs, Eric Schmidt helped create a program called Lex. This program is used to build parts of computer compilers, which translate code into instructions computers can understand.
Time at Sun Microsystems
In 1983, Schmidt joined Sun Microsystems. He was their very first software manager. He moved up through different leadership roles. He became the director of software engineering and later the president of Sun Technology Enterprises.
While at Sun, his co-workers played some funny April Fool's Day pranks on him. One year, his office was taken apart and rebuilt on a platform in the middle of a pond! Another year, a Volkswagen Beetle car was taken apart and put back together inside his office.
Leading Novell
In 1997, Eric Schmidt became the CEO and chairman of Novell. He led the company during a time when its main product was being replaced by newer technologies. He left Novell in 2001.
Years at Google
In 2001, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin asked Eric Schmidt to join their company. They were impressed by his experience. He became the chairman of Google's board of directors in March 2001. Then, in August 2001, he became Google's CEO.
At Google, Schmidt worked closely with Larry Page and Sergey Brin. He helped manage the company's fast growth. His job was to build the company's structure and make sure Google's products stayed high quality.
_in_conversation_with_Nik_Gowing_(11051254154).jpg)
In 2004, Schmidt and the Google founders decided to take a salary of just US$1 per year. Most of his other pay covered things like personal security and private flights. In 2007, PC World magazine named Schmidt, Page, and Brin as the most important people on the Web.
In 2011, Eric Schmidt stepped down as Google's CEO. He became the executive chairman and an advisor to the founders. Larry Page took over as CEO. Schmidt left his role as executive chairman of Alphabet in 2017. He then left his technical advisor role at Alphabet in 2020.
Work with the U.S. Government
In 2016, Schmidt chaired a new advisory board for the Department of Defense. This board helped connect technology leaders with the Pentagon. He also co-chaired the U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence from 2019 to 2021. This group made recommendations about how the U.S. should use AI.
Other Important Roles
Eric Schmidt has served on the boards of many important organizations. These include Carnegie Mellon University, Princeton University, and the Mayo Clinic. He also owns a small part of the Washington Commanders, an NFL team.
He is the chairman of the board of directors at Broad Institute. He also taught at Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2022, he was appointed to the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.
In 2025, Schmidt became the CEO of Relativity Space, a company that makes rockets. He also invested in the Washington Commanders football team in 2023.
Political Involvement
Eric Schmidt was an advisor and supporter for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. After Obama won, Schmidt joined his transition advisory board. He also became a member of the United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
He has suggested that investing in renewable energy is a good way to solve many problems in the United States. In 2016, he was appointed chairman of the Defense Innovation Advisory Board. This board helps the Pentagon become more innovative.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy Schmidt, are very active in philanthropy, which means giving money and time to help others.
The Schmidt Family Foundation
The Schmidt Family Foundation was started in 2006 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. It focuses on making sure we use natural resources responsibly and on sustainability.
They also created the Eric & Wendy Schmidt Data Science for Social Good Fellowship. This program helps young data scientists learn how to use data to solve important social problems. The foundation also supports ocean research through the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund
In 2009, Eric and Wendy Schmidt gave $25 million to Princeton University. This money created the Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund. It supports new research in science and engineering.
Schmidt Science Fellows
The Schmidt Science Fellows program helps young scientists from around the world. It encourages them to work across different science fields. Fellows receive support for their postdoctoral studies.
Rise Initiative
Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust created the Rise program. It aims to find and support talented young people aged 15 to 17 globally. The program helps them develop their skills and encourages a lifetime of service.
Public Views
Eric Schmidt has shared his thoughts on various topics, including technology and privacy.
On Privacy
Schmidt has said that there is a balance between privacy and how useful technology can be. He believes that if you have something you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't do it online. However, he also expressed concern about too much personal information being shared, especially by teenagers. He stated that Google tries to "forget" information when it's the right thing to do.
On Network Neutrality
In 2010, Schmidt explained Google's view on network neutrality. This idea means that internet providers should treat all data equally. He said it's okay to prioritize different types of data, like voice over video, but not to favor one person's video over another's.
Global Internet Use
In 2013, Schmidt visited North Korea and Myanmar. In both countries, he spoke about the importance of free and open internet access. He believes the internet can help people connect and access information.
Technology and Society
In 2015, Schmidt met with Pope Francis to discuss how technology affects society. This was an important meeting between a tech leader and the Pope.
Books and Ideas
Eric Schmidt has co-authored several books about technology and business.
- The New Digital Age: In 2013, he co-wrote The New Digital Age with Jared Cohen. This book explores how the internet changes people, countries, and businesses.
- How Google Works: In 2014, he co-authored How Google Works. This book shares lessons learned from leading Google. It suggests that successful companies should hire smart, creative people and give them freedom to innovate.
- The Age of AI: In 2021, he co-authored "The Age of AI: And Our Human Future" with Henry Kissinger and Daniel Huttenlocher.
Schmidt's Law
Back in the early 1990s, Eric Schmidt predicted that the internet network would become as powerful as a computer itself. This idea became known as "Schmidt's Law." It means that as networks get faster, the computer's parts spread out across the internet, and the value moves to things like searching and sorting information.
Social Media Views
In 2020, Schmidt stated that social networking services can sometimes make it easier for "crazy people" to share their ideas. He said this was not what tech companies intended when they created these platforms.
Other Activities
Eric Schmidt has many other interests and activities.
Art Collection
He has been recognized as one of the top art collectors. However, he has said that he doesn't consider himself an art collector, even though he is involved in the art world.
Group Memberships
He is a member of the Bilderberg Group, which is a private annual conference. He also belongs to the Trilateral Commission and the Berggruen Institute's 21st Century Council.
Acting
Eric Schmidt has made small appearances in movies and TV shows. He had a cameo in the film Dumb and Dumber To (2014) and in an episode of the HBO show Silicon Valley.
Personal Life
Eric Schmidt married Wendy Susan Boyle in June 1980. They have a daughter named Sophie. Their other daughter, Alison, passed away in 2017.
In 2015, Schmidt invested in D. E. Shaw & Co., a financial firm. In April 2015, he gave a speech at Virginia Tech, his childhood home. He also donated $2 million to the university's College of Engineering.
In 2020, he bought a large estate in Montecito, California. In November 2020, it was reported that he was becoming a citizen of Cyprus. This allows him to live in any country in the European Union.
In 2024, his estimated wealth was about $37.8 billion. He was also honored as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his charitable work.
Images for kids
-
Schmidt in 2011
-
Left to right, Eric Schmidt, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, 2008
-
Schmidt as executive chair of Google, speaking with Nik Gowing
-
Schmidt during the Munich Security Conference 2018
-
Eric Schmidt and Ash Carter meet about the Innovation Advisory Board for the DoD.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Eric Schmidt para niños
