Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, 70, has been romantically linked to 27-year-old Gloria-Sophie Burkandt, the daughter of a prominent German politician, according to a report from Bild. The pair were seen together at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.
Burkandt, a model and economist based in New York, is the daughter of Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder. While a source close to Schmidt described their connection as “just a friendship, not a relationship,” the German tabloid suggests a deeper bond.
Burkandt holds a master’s degree and is pursuing a PhD. She has written for Teen Vogue, detailing past experiences of workplace sexual harassment. She previously gained attention in Germany for a controversial appearance on a celebrity game show.
Schmidt, worth an estimated $54.6 billion, stepped down as Google’s CEO in 2011. He remains married to Wendy Schmidt, though his personal life has often been public. He is widely described as having an open marriage, though this has not been formally confirmed. Schmidt has had several high-profile relationships, including a recent turbulent association with entrepreneur Michelle Ritter that resulted in ongoing mutual lawsuits.
