LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — The 31-year-old former mistress of ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt has accused the billionaire of stalking, abuse, and digital surveillance in a bitter legal fight involving millions of dollars, a Bel Air mansion, and a failed AI startup.
Michelle Ritter, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and Columbia Law School graduate, filed for a temporary restraining order against Schmidt late last year, according to court documents obtained by The New York Post. The filing accused the 70-year-old tech magnate of “toxic masculinity” and claimed he used his power and resources to control and monitor her.
Ritter alleged that Schmidt created “an absolute digital surveillance system” around her, saying she could not make a private phone call or send an email without being watched. Schmidt, whose estimated net worth is $44.8 billion, denied the allegations through his attorneys.
In December, Ritter and Schmidt signed a “written settlement agreement” that reportedly required Schmidt to make substantial payments to her. However, the details of the deal remain sealed. A week later, Ritter filed a domestic violence restraining order, only to withdraw it three weeks later after the pair reportedly reached a new understanding.
The filings reveal the dispute centers on Steel Perlot, an AI startup founded by Ritter and backed by a $100 million investment from Schmidt. Ritter accused Schmidt of locking her out of the company’s systems and demanding she sign a “gag order” denying any allegations of sexual assault or harassment.
Schmidt’s legal team, led by Los Angeles attorney Patricia Glaser, has called Ritter’s complaint “demonstrably false” and “a blatant abuse of the judicial system.” Most of Schmidt’s response remains sealed, and a court hearing is set for Dec. 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
In her December filing, Ritter claimed Schmidt used his wealth and influence to cut off her access to finances, business data, and even her personal belongings. She said private investigators followed her parents to a restaurant just before she sought the restraining order. According to the filing, one investigator told police he worked for “a billionaire’s private security detail.”
Ritter also asked the court for exclusive access to Schmidt’s 15,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion, which she had been staying in. The $61 million property, once owned by Hilton family heirs, became a key point of contention between the two.
In later interviews, Ritter said she had started separating her life from Schmidt’s and planned to move out of the lavish estate.
Ritter now lives in a small Beverly Hills apartment above a Jersey Mike’s sandwich shop, according to recent filings. She claims Schmidt violated their updated settlement and is trying to force her into arbitration, which she cannot afford. Ritter called the move “a cynical effort to win by economic and resource attrition.”
Their conflict reportedly intensified in April 2024 during a legal mediation session. Ritter said Schmidt and his lawyers refused to proceed unless her abuse allegations were excluded. She alleged that, afterward, she was locked out of her homes and denied access to her belongings in multiple cities.
The couple’s relationship was thrust into the spotlight after Forbes reported that Steel Perlot was in financial turmoil. Despite Schmidt’s massive investment, the publication said the company struggled with unpaid bills and leadership issues.
The Information later reported that Ritter’s behavior at the company raised concerns, describing missed meetings and erratic conduct. Schmidt’s spokesperson told Forbes that the billionaire “intends to continue supporting Steel Perlot financially.”
Schmidt and Ritter reportedly began dating in 2021. Their relationship also gave rise to another venture, Audem Management, managed by Ritter’s father, which paid staff working at Schmidt’s various properties.
Schmidt, known as Silicon Valley’s “Casanova,” has been linked to several younger women over the years. His previous relationships reportedly included socialites, designers, and musicians. He served as Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2017, helping transform the search engine into one of the world’s largest technology companies.
