What Happened to Eric Schmidt and Michelle Ritter Lawsuit?
The legal dispute between former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his ex-girlfriend and business partner Michelle Ritter, which began in 2024, involved accusations of sexual assault, digital surveillance, and business theft related to their joint venture, Steel Perlot. After a Los Angeles judge compelled the case to arbitration in March 2026, an arbitrator ruled in June 2026 that Schmidt was not guilty of sexual assault and ordered Ritter to pay him $10.7 million in damages.
Quick Answer
The lawsuit filed by Eric Schmidt's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Ritter, accusing him of sexual assault, digital surveillance, and business theft, was largely resolved through arbitration. In a preliminary ruling on June 2, 2026, an arbitrator sided with Eric Schmidt, finding him not guilty of sexual assault and ordering Ritter to pay him $10.7 million in damages. The arbitrator concluded that Ritter's claims of rape were false.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Eric Schmidt and Michelle Ritter Meet
Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and Michelle Ritter, a Columbia University student, meet and begin a romantic relationship and a business partnership, co-founding Steel Perlot.
Alleged Sexual Assault on Yacht
Ritter later alleged that Schmidt 'forcibly raped' her on a yacht off the coast of Mexico.
Alleged Nonconsensual Sex at Burning Man
Ritter also alleged that Schmidt forced her to have nonconsensual sex at the Burning Man festival.
Relationship Unravels and Dispute Begins
The personal relationship between Schmidt and Ritter unravels, leading to disputes over their joint venture, Steel Perlot.
Restraining Order and Settlement Agreement
Michelle Ritter sought a domestic violence restraining order against Schmidt, which she later withdrew after signing a financial settlement and arbitration agreement.
Ritter Files Lawsuit in Superior Court
Ritter filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, initially seeking to set aside the December 2024 settlement.
Media Reports Detail Lawsuit Allegations
News outlets report on Ritter's lawsuit, which accused Schmidt of stalking, abuse, 'toxic masculinity,' and using an 'absolute digital surveillance system.'
Amended Complaint Filed with Sexual Assault and Surveillance Claims
Ritter filed an amended complaint detailing allegations of sexual assault (2021 yacht, 2023 Burning Man), digital surveillance via a 'backdoor' to Google servers, and business theft. Google was also named as a defendant.
Ritter Decides to Represent Herself
Ritter's former attorneys filed court papers stating that she would now be representing herself in the lawsuit against Schmidt.
Judge Compels Lawsuit to Arbitration
Superior Court Judge Michael Small ruled that the lawsuit would be sent to private arbitration, stating that a 2022 federal law on forced arbitration for sexual assault did not apply because the arbitration agreement was signed after the alleged incidents.
Arbitrator Rules in Favor of Eric Schmidt
An arbitrator, retired Washington State Judge Beth Andrus, issued a preliminary ruling finding Eric Schmidt not guilty of sexual assault and ordering Michelle Ritter to pay him $10.7 million in damages. The arbitrator found Ritter's statement that she was raped to be false.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The legal saga between former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his ex-girlfriend Michelle Ritter stems from a romantic and business relationship that began in 2020. Ritter, then a Columbia University law and MBA student, met Schmidt, and they subsequently co-founded Steel Perlot, an AI and crypto investment company into which Schmidt reportedly invested around $100 million.
The relationship began to unravel in 2024, leading to a complex legal dispute. In December 2024, Ritter initially sought a domestic violence restraining order against Schmidt, which she later withdrew after reaching a financial settlement and arbitration agreement. However, the dispute escalated when Ritter filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court in September 2025, seeking to set aside the earlier settlement and making explosive allegations.
In November 2025, Ritter filed an amended complaint accusing Schmidt of "forcibly raping" her on a yacht off Mexico in 2021 and engaging in nonconsensual sex at the Burning Man festival in 2023. She also alleged that Schmidt used his technical background to create a "backdoor" to Google servers to spy on her and other employees, and accused him of stealing their joint venture. Google was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Schmidt vehemently denied all accusations, with his legal team calling the lawsuit a "desperate and destructive effort to publish false and defamatory statements."
A key turning point occurred on March 6, 2026, when Superior Court Judge Michael Small ruled to send most of the lawsuit to private arbitration. Judge Small determined that a 2022 federal law, intended to prevent forced arbitration in sexual assault cases, did not apply because the arbitration agreement between Ritter and Schmidt was signed in December 2024, after the alleged sexual misconduct. Ritter expressed concerns about the ruling, arguing that the alleged digital surveillance was a continuation of the earlier sexual misconduct.
The most recent development came on June 2, 2026, when an arbitrator, retired Washington State Judge Beth Andrus, issued a preliminary ruling in favor of Eric Schmidt. The arbitrator found Schmidt not guilty of the sexual assault accusations and ordered Michelle Ritter to pay him $10.7 million in damages. The ruling explicitly stated that Ritter's claim of being raped by Schmidt was false, also noting that Ritter had avoided discussing the rape accusations under oath.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Eric Schmidt and Michelle Ritter Lawsuit made different choices?