Eric Schmidt Facts (GOOGLE) – # 50 Facts

Eric Schmidt Facts – Biography

Eric Schmidt Date of Birth

1. Born 1955

Eric Emerson Schmidt is an American entrepreneur, who is a software engineer by profession.

Eric Schmidt is born on 27 April 1955 and worked as the CEO, Executive Chairman at Google.

According to estimates, Schmidt has a total wealth of 7.5 billion dollars and Forbes magazine ranked him as 138th wealthiest person in the world.

2. Parents and Early Life

Eric Schmidt is born to Wilson Schmidt and Eleanor.

He receives his early education from Yorktown High School, Virginia.

Schmidt enrollsat Johns Hopkins University, where he switches his major from architecture to electrical engineering and graduates in the year 1976.

Early Career of Eric Schmidt

3. Eric Schmidt Starts His Professional Career

Eric Schmidt starts his professional career with UNIX computer operating system firm.

In the year 1997, he becomes CEO of Novell, he resigns from there in the year 2001.

In the same year, he starts working at Google.

4. Sun Microsystems

Eric Schmidt starts working at Sun Microsystems in the year 1983.

He works as software manager, then becomes director of software engineering and finally becomes president of the Sun Technology Enterprises.

At Sun Microsystems Schmidt becomes the recipient of amusing April fool’s Day pranks.

In one of the pranks, his office is moved and assembled in the center of a pond and in a subsequent year, a Volkswagen Beetle is installed in his office.

Eric Schmidt Professional Success

5. Google

Sergey Brin and Larry Page found Google; they jointly interview Eric Schmidt and are impressed by Schmidt’s charisma and motivation.

They hire him to run Google in the year 2001.

Schmidt works with Michael Moritz and John Doerr and makes Google even more successful.

6. Salary at Google

When Google recruits Eric Schmidt, he gets a gross salary of twenty five thousand dollars and his package also includes a performance based annual bonus.

When in the year 2011 Schmidt leaves the position of CEO at Google, the company pays him a total of hundred million dollars in equity.

7. Board of Directors for Apple

Eric Schmidt is amongst the boards of directors for Apple on 28 August 2009.

However, he resigns from this position in the year 2009.

He resigns from Apple as there is severe competition between Apple and Google.

8. New America Foundation

Schmidt list of success does not end here; he is currently the chairperson of the New America Foundation.

This foundation launches in the year 1999; it is a non-profit organization and a think tank.

9. Board of Trustees at Institutions

Eric Schmidt provides his services in various capacities.

He is also among the board of trustees at Princeton University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Career with Google, Eric Schmidt

10. Awards for Google

As per his professional life is concerned; Eric Schmidt along with Larry Page achieves great rewards and honors for their successful search engine Google.

In addition, Google flourishes tremendously with Eric Schmidt as its co-founder.

11. Eric Helps Google to Grow

Eric Schmidt helps Google in generating revenue.

In 2003, he launches a platform for websites without AdSense that was self-serving advertising platform.

It works as a money making machine for Google as Google’s total revenue increases by 30% because of its introduction.

12. Buys YouTube

Eric Schmidt buys YouTube by paying a large sum of money of around 1.65 billion dollars.

He managed to turn YouTube into a high profit-generating site that was formerly not a good source of revenue for its producers.

13. Works Hard for the Success of Google

Eric Schmidt also accompanies his fellows at conferences that are conducted to introduce various features of Google such as Google maps and Gmail.

He works as the co-founder of Google, when in the year 2005 Google buys Android Inc.

He also helps Google in dominating the market segment for mobile search after its partnership with Apple.

14. War Between Google and Apple Inc.

There is an ongoing war between Google and Apple Inc., but Google has a clear success as Google has a market share of 72 percent while Apple Inc.

has a mere 14 percent market share.

Eric Schmidt also says in an interview that on a daily basis, 1.3 million Android devices are activated and this number is ever increasing.

15. Launches Google Chrome

In 2008, Eric Schmidt launches Google Chrome, an internet browser that is not as successful as Firefox or Internet Explorer in the beginning, but helps in gaining a sufficient amount of market share…

Today Google Chrome is the most used internet browser.

16. Security of Google

In the year 2009, Schmidt also provides useful insights on the issue of security and privacy experience of the users of Google.

While, answering questions asked for a CNBC documentary named ‘Inside the mind of Google’, he says, “I think judgment matters.

If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place, but if you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines including Google do retain this information for some time, and it’s important, for example, that we are all subjects in the United States to the patriot act.

It is possible that, that information could be made available to the authorities.”

17. Clears Up Misconceptions about Google Neutrality

Eric Schmidt clears up the misconceptions other people have about Google’s network neutrality.

In the year 2010 that Schmidt says, “What we mean is if you have one data type like video, you don’t discriminate against one person’s video in favor of another.

But it’s okay to discriminate across different types, so you could prioritize voice over video, and there is general agreement with Verizon and Google on that issue’.

18. Work Culture at Google

During his time at Google as the CEO of the company, Eric Schmidt provides a work environment that allows and encourages employees to provide useful information and an opportunity to innovate.

The business culture that Schmidt adopts at Google encourages employees to work on many innovative projects.

19. His Strategy to Organize Employees

Eric Schmidt is very successful in organizing his employees at Google, which makes Google into a thriving brand name.

Ivan Emest describes the Schmidt’s strategy in these words, “Hire learners.

Trust them: give them freedom, information and tools.

Small projects, small teams.

Flat structure.

Discuss everything in public.

Be meritocratic.

Reward success, but don’t penalize failure”.

20. Google Earns Over $30 Billion Annually

In many of his interviews and business conferences, Schmidt sums up his business strategies that lead to the tremendous success of Google.

Google, after having Schmidt as its CEO, is earning revenue of above $30 billion dollars annually.

21. Leaves Google

Some close advisors report that Eric Schmidt leaves Google as he is unhappy with his co-founder Larry Page.

22. Reasons Why Eric Leaves Google

Many people speculate about the reason why Eric Schmidt leaves Google.

Many say that after his unsuccessful China decision; he loses his focus and energy.

Others argue that Google starts to adopt a very defensive policy and fails to make a mark in the social networking arena.

In addition, the increasing popularity of Facebook, leads to an increase in complaints about the bureaucracy working on the Google.

Google also faces challenges like copyright, size and privacy issues.

Personal Interests of Eric Schmidt

23. Collects Art Pieces

Few people know that Schmidt is fond of collecting unique art pieces.

In the year 2008, ART news ranks him in their list of top two hundred art collectors.

He is also an active member of the Bilderberg Group and attends its conference in 2011 that was held at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

24. Favorite Car Brand

Eric Schmidt’s favorite car make is Toyota Prius and he loves to ride it occasionally.

This car matches the celebrity status of the man himself.

This car is unique in a sense that it is a Hybrid car, with an economy of 50mpg.

25. Loves Flying Planes

Eric Schmidt loves to fly planes and is very passionate about it.

He is a proud owner of a Gulfstream V, which is one of the most exquisite private jet planes.

Schmidt himself is a certified pilot but whenever he flies, he ensures that a professional crew is flying with him.

His favorite destinations are Europe and East Coast.

Eric Schmidt Assets

26. Bought an Recherche Estate

Eric Schmidt buys a recherché estate in the rich neighborhood of Atherton in the state of California.

This property is worth 3.7 million dollars and he lives with his family in this grand mansion with five bedrooms.

27. Owns Several Properties

This billionaire owns a number of properties including a lavish mansion in Montecito, Southern California.

This area is surely one of the most expensive places of California and owning a mansion designed by George Washington Smith of worth $20 million reflects the booming financial position of Eric Schmidt.

He shares this neighborhood with some other renowned celebrities including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

28. Owns a Yacht

Eric Schmidt owns a yacht named Oasis.

This yacht consists of technologically advanced features.

Glade Johnson designs the ultra posh interior of the yacht.

Schmidt personal favorite destinations to which he likes to travel by his own yacht includes the Caribbean and southern parts of France.

29. Is a Billionaire

Due to his leadership style, effective communication skills and efficient business strategies, Eric Schmidt earns a handsome amount of money and became a billionaire.

Eric Schmidt Personal Life

30. Marriage and Separation

Schmidt meets Wendy Boyle during his four-year stay at International House Berkeley.

Finally, in 1980 Eric Schmidt marries Wendy Boyle and moves to Atherton, California.

They have two beautiful daughters together named Allison and Sophie.

The couple separate in the year 2011.

After their separation, Schmidt dates Lisa Shields but their relationship does not last for long.

31. Divorce from Wendy Schmidt

Before his divorce with Wendy, Schmidt makes many headlines because of his turbulent personal life with his wife.

The two live separately before their divorce.

Eric Schmidt lives in Silicon Valley, whereas his wife lives in Nantucket.

With the news of their divorce, people start to estimate the cost that Schmidt has to face due to this divorce.

According to some people, the divorce cost around $1.5 billion to Schmidt.

32. Dates Lisa Shields

As per the New York Post, Lisa Shields is speculated to be the new girlfriend of Schmidt.

There are rumors that he goes on a yacht trip with his new girlfriend.

33. More on Shields

Lisa Shields is divorced and has a child from her earlier marriage.

Previously, she works as the producer of Prime Time Live and Good Morning America.

Moreover, she is part of one of the PlumTV’s internet shows.

The couple is not very public about their relationship.

34. Former Girlfriends

His former girlfriends, Kate Bohner and Marcy Simon also share a similar type of career as of his current girlfriend.

Kate works as CNBC correspondent and is responsible for the establishment of KBTV, which is a channel on YouTube.

Marcy on the other hand was the producer of WCMH-TV.

35. Dates Chau-Giang

Chau-Giang and Eric Schmidt start dating in the year 2012.

Chau-Giang Nguyen is a famous concert pianist, who was formerly engaged to Brian Grazer.

Eric Schmidt Personality

36. Social Networking Sites

There are a large number of people who follow Schmidt on social networking sites.

37. Geek Park

He makes his first appearance in China at an event called Geek Park.

38. Loves Inventing Creative Things

Schmidt loves innovations and in a Wall Street Journal interview, he tells the interviewer about his upcoming innovations and advancements in Google search.

He says,” We are still happy to be in search, believe me.

However, one idea is that more and more searches are done on your behalf without you needing to type.

I actually think most people do not want Google to answer their questions.

They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next.”

39. A Dynamic World Fascinates Him

The constantly evolving and dynamic world fascinates Eric Schmidt.

He talks about the versatility of the world in these words, “When the Internet publicity began, I remember being struck by how much the world was not the way we thought it was that there was infinite variation in how people viewed the world”.

40. Avoids Paying His Taxes

He is highly criticized for adopting a strategy of tax avoidance, which he calls capitalism.

Due to his immoral strategy of tax avoidance, the chairperson of the Public Accounts committee, Margaret Hodge calls Eric Schmidt as ‘arrogant and out of touch’.

41. Is Socially Responsible

Eric Schmidt is also a socially responsible person, he along with Wendy sets up a foundation called The Schmidt Family Foundation in the year 2006.

This foundation’s main aim is to use natural resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.

They launch several projects on the Island of Nantucket by collaborating with San Francisco based Architecture Company called Heart Howerton.

42. Accolades

According to Brendan Wood International, which is one of the leading advisory agencies, Schmidt ranks in the list of “Top Gun CEOs”.

PC World also ranks him in the list of 50 most influential people on the web in the year 2007; Sergey Brin and Larry Page also ranks in this list.

43. Values Innovation

Eric Schmidt values innovation and sophistication.

In 2010, Schmidt and Dror Berman jointly found Innovative Endeavors; their mission is to promote aspiring businesspersons by providing them with capital, technological assistance and a reliable network.

This venture funds many diverse companies worldwide including Uber, BillGuard and Gogobot.

44. Supports Barack Obama

Eric Schmidt is a strong supporter of Barack Obama.

Schmidt provides his services to the current president of the USA as his campaign advisor and donates funds to his campaigns.

Schmidt also shows his support for the president and in the month of October 2008, he starts to campaign on behalf of Obama.

After Obama’s victory in the elections, Schmidt becomes a member of President Obama’s transition advisory board.

45. Qualities Individuals Need to Have To Succeed

Schmidt understands that the business environment today is highly competitive and in order to survive in this era of stringent competition he argues that an individual needs to have some qualities.

He says that in order to reach to the top, the individual should always be striving to innovate and should not miss any opportunity that comes his way.

He understands that sometimes it can be difficult to manage your personal and business life.

However, he believes that it is essential for an individual who wishes to make it to the top management to be able to sense any upcoming crisis and have the ability to resolve it.

Eric Schmidt: Advocacy of Internet Freedom

46. Pan-ASIA

He carries out a freedom tour called the pan-ASIA.

His focus of this tour is India and its internet usage freedom.

The Times of India has a page written by Schmidt, in which he writes, “Now is the moment for India to decide what kind of internet it wants for them”.

He further writes, “An open internet that benefits all or a highly regulated one that inhibits innovation.”

47. Trip to North Korea

Eric Schmidt makes a trip to North Korea.

On this trip, he suggests the North Koreans reduce the restrictions they impose on internet access in their country or else they will lag behind the rest of the world.

48. Talks about Ban on the Internet

He remains very critical of the countries where the access to the internet is blocked.

He says that such states will lag behind in the race of innovation and technology.

49. Talks about Negative Impact of Internet

Eric Schmidt shows concern about the negative impact of the increasing use of the internet can have.

In addition, whenever possible he tries to raise awareness about issues related to virtual kidnaps, privacy for kids and drone wars.

50. Travels to Asia to Spread Awareness about the Internet Usage

Eric Schmidt travels all around Asia for spreading the awareness and encouraging the use of the internet.

He speaks of Asia as the prime location for the development of Information Technology.