### Biography of Eric Schmidt
#### 1. Early Life
Eric Emerson Schmidt was born on April 27, 1955, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a family that valued education and technology. His father, Wilson Schmidt, was a professor of international economics at Virginia Tech and Johns Hopkins University, which instilled a deep appreciation for academic achievement in Eric from an early age. He attended Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia, where his interest in engineering and technology began to take shape. Schmidt then pursued higher education at Princeton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1976. His passion for technology continued to evolve, leading him to obtain a Master's degree and subsequently a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1982.
#### 2. Career
Eric Schmidt's illustrious career began at Bell Labs, where he worked on developing a design and implementation software for managing large networks. He then joined Sun Microsystems in 1983 as its first software manager. His work at Sun was groundbreaking, especially his contributions to the development of Java, one of today's most fundamental programming languages.
In 1997, Schmidt took on the role of CEO at Novell, a company specializing in network operating systems. His tenure at Novell was marked by efforts to steer the company away from its declining NetWare business towards new networking and directory technologies.
However, Schmidt's most significant career move came in 2001, when he was appointed CEO of Google. He played a pivotal role in Google's rapid growth from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in technology. Under his leadership, Google expanded its offerings beyond search, including acquisitions like YouTube and the development of the Android mobile operating system. Schmidt served as Google's CEO until 2011, after which he became the executive chairman, a position he held until 2017.
#### 3. Notable Achievements
During his tenure at Google, Eric Schmidt oversaw massive expansion and innovation. Some of his notable achievements include:
- Guiding Google through its highly successful IPO in 2004.
- Overseeing major acquisitions such as YouTube in 2006 and DoubleClick in 2007, which significantly expanded Google's advertising and video capabilities.
- Launching the Android operating system, which has become the world’s most used smartphone platform.
- Advocating for the use of AI and data analytics in business processes.
Schmidt was also elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2006 for his contributions to the development of strategies for the world’s largest internet search engine company. Post-Google, he has been involved in various philanthropic activities and continues to influence the tech industry through his innovation and expertise.
#### 4. Personal Life
Eric Schmidt is known to be a private individual when it comes to his personal life. He married Wendy Boyle in 1980, and they have two daughters, Sophie and Allison. Schmidt's interests include art and philanthropy; he and his wife are involved in numerous charitable activities through The Schmidt Family Foundation. They focus on environmental sustainability and the responsible use of natural resources.
Eric Schmidt's life is a testament to the impact of forward-thinking leadership in technology. His work continues to influence and shape the tech landscape around the world.
### Related People
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Wilson-Schmidt: Eric's father, an economics professor who influenced his academic pursuits.
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Wendy-Boyle: Eric's wife, who has partnered with him in various philanthropic efforts.
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Larry-Page: Co-founder of Google, who hired Schmidt as CEO to help guide the company.
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Sergey-Brin: Co-founder of Google, worked closely with Schmidt during his tenure at the company.
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Sundar-Pichai: Current CEO of Google, who took over leadership as Schmidt transitioned out of the company.