70-year-old former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is suspected of having an affair with the Prime Minister's daughter, who is 43 years his junior.
70-year-old billionaire and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is suspected of having a romantic relationship with 27-year-old Gloria-Sophie Burkandt, the daughter of Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, according to the German newspaper Bild.
Speculation began after the couple was spotted together at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Subsequently, according to the publication, Schmidt and Burkandt spent considerable time together, traveling throughout the United States, India, and Europe. Furthermore, the couple is rumored to have appeared at the Munich Security Conference, which took place last weekend.
The couple allegedly met in November 2025 at Harvard and have been "inseparable" ever since, with Schmidt himself "falling in love like a boy." However, a source close to the billionaire told the Daily Mail that the Bild report was "full of inaccuracies" and that it merely referred to a "close friendship," not a romance. He also emphasized that Schmidt and Burkandt did not meet at Harvard and have never traveled together. The alleged "lovers" themselves have not yet publicly commented on the rumors.
Little is known about Gloria-Sophie Burkandt. According to public sources, she is pursuing a career as a model and public speaker, holds a bachelor's and master's degree in business management, and is currently working on her doctorate. German media also report that Burkandt, the daughter of the leader of the Christian Social Union of Germany, divides her time between New York, Los Angeles, Munich, and Nuremberg.
It's important to note that Schmidt has been married to his wife, Wendy, since 1980. The couple makes no secret of their open relationship, and the media has long dubbed Eric "New York's hottest bachelor," claiming he's buying up homes around the world to support his many affairs.
As a reminder, Schmidt's previous and most famous affair, with businesswoman Michelle Ritter, ended in a major scandal. First, the entrepreneur's ex-lover was accused of large-scale fraud, and soon after their breakup, she accused Eric of domestic violence and stalking. He denied all charges.
Eric Schmidt is one of the richest people in the world (his net worth is estimated at $35 billion, according to Forbes). In 2010, he joined the Skolkovo Foundation's board of trustees. He relinquished his position as Google CEO to Larry Page after 10 years at the helm, remaining chairman of the board. In the summer of 2023, he purchased the yacht Alfa Nero, which belonged to sanctioned Russian billionaire Andrey Guryev, for $67.6 million.
Video: Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesCraig Barritt/Getty Images