Billionaire ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, 70, steps out with female companion, 27, whose dad is politician

Former Google boss Eric Schmidt, 70, is said to be dating a 27-year-old German model, the daughter of Bavaria’s powerful minister-president.

The billionaire has been spotted alongside Gloria-Sophie Burkandt at high-profile global events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Their public appearances and their 43-year age difference attracted intense attention on both sides of the Atlantic. Schmidt is 21 years older than Burkandt’s father, Markus Soder.

Burkandt himself alluded to the importance of this moment in his Instagram post from Davos on January 21.

‘Being at the World Economic Forum and listening to conversations about artificial intelligence and the future of Europe touched me deeply,’ he wrote. ‘When I imagine my future children, I hope they grow up in a world where curiosity, freedom and compassion are protected.’

According to German newspaper BILDSchmidt and Burkandt have spent a lot of time together in recent weeks, traveling through the United States, India and Europe. They are expected to attend the Munich Security Conference next week.

A source close to Schmidt’s circle told the newspaper that Schmidt would not officially describe the relationship as a romantic relationship, but rather that the two were “close friends.”

Burkandt’s father, Soder, is also the leader of the conservative Christian Social Union in Germany, placing him at the center of one of Europe’s most influential political families.

She built her own public profile as a model, author, and speaker, and also served as patron of Richard Wagner’s children’s education initiative associated with the Bayreuth Festival.

Gloria-Sophie Burkandt is 27 years old. Sources insist she and Schmidt are just friends

According to reports in the German media, he studied economics, completed his master’s degrees and is continuing his doctoral studies.

Dividing his time between New York, Los Angeles, Munich and Nuremberg, his international lifestyle meant that he was already familiar with the lifestyle of the elite before Schmidt came along.

Accordingly BILDSchmidt and Burkandt are believed to have met at Harvard University in late 2025.

They soon began appearing together at major international gatherings.

Schmidt’s influence today extends far beyond Silicon Valley. He remains active in artificial intelligence, aerospace initiatives, and philanthropy, shaping discussions about the future of technology and national security.

Burkandt similarly positioned himself in global debates about economics, education, and social development.

In December 2025, she wrote on Instagram: ‘I’m ready for a year full of love, happiness, loyalty and passion.’

Schmidt, who led Google’s explosive transformation into a global technology powerhouse, has been married to philanthropist Wendy Schmidt, 70, since 1980.

Schmidt is married to his wife of 45 years, Wendy, with whom he has an open relationship. Photo of the couple in November 2025

Burkandt is a model, speaker and patron of the Bayreuth Festival’s ‘Richard Wagner for Children’ project.

Burkandt is the daughter of Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union in Germany. Picture, July 2024

According to reports in the German press, Burkandt studied economics and continues his academic studies at the doctoral level.

Burkandt has lived and worked internationally, including spending extended periods of time in New York and Los Angeles as she developed her career in media and public speaking

Burkandt is the daughter of Markus Söder, one of Germany’s most prominent conservative political leaders.

He currently serves as president of the Schmidt Family Foundation, which funds environmental and social initiatives around the world.

The two reportedly have an open relationship; Eric has previously been linked to glamorous young women, including fashion designer Shoshanna Gruss, socialite Ulla Parker, PR executive Marcy Simon, Council on Foreign Relations Vice President Lisa Shields, pianist Cho-San Nguyen, former CNBC correspondent Kate Bohner and former Olympic skater Alexandra Duisberg.

Eric and Wendy maintained an unconventional marriage arrangement and never announced plans to divorce. They continue to appear together in public.

His enormous fortune, estimated in the tens of billions, allowed him to operate at the highest levels of business, science and international politics long after he left his day-to-day leadership role at Google.

He served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011 and was chairman of the company’s board of directors from 2011 to 2018.

Schmidt’s latest relationship follows a bitter and highly public legal dispute with tech entrepreneur Michelle Ritter, whom he dated after meeting through professional connections.

Ritter filed legal claims accusing Schmidt of harassment, surveillance, and coercive control; Schmidt vehemently denied these allegations.

Schmidt was previously with tech entrepreneur Michelle Ritter, pictured, and she later filed for a temporary restraining order against the 70-year-old Schmidt in 2024.

Elon Musk and Eric Schmidt are seen at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles in April 2024

Schmidt (right) frequently attends global forums such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he meets with presidents and prime ministers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen with Schmidt in 2021

Eric Schmidt seen next to Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett in 2012

In his court response, Schmidt called his allegations ‘patently false’ and called them a ‘blatant abuse of the judicial system.’

His lawyer, Patricia Glaser, later told the Daily Mail that Ritter’s applications were ‘false and defamatory’ and ‘the latest desperate and destructive effort’ to damage his reputation.

The legal battle stemmed from the collapse of both their romantic relationship and their joint business ventures, including an artificial intelligence startup that Schmidt backed with significant investments.

The Daily Mail has reached out to both Schmidt and Burkandt for comment.