Google ex-CEO Eric Schmidt seen with model 43 years his junior at Davos

Google ex-CEO Eric Schmidt seen with model 43 years his junior at Davos

• Eric Schmidt, 70, rumored to be dating Gloria-Sophie Burkandt, 27, in Davos
• Neither Schmidt nor Burkandt has confirmed a romantic relationship
• Public debate focuses on their 43-year age gap and privacy

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Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is back in the headlines, this time for his personal life rather than technology or geopolitics.

German tabloid Bild has reported that Schmidt, 70, is dating Gloria-Sophie Burkandt, a 27-year-old model who is also the eldest daughter of Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria. The speculation gathered pace after the two were photographed together at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Images from the event show Schmidt and Burkandt walking side by side outside a venue, holding takeaway coffees and speaking to reporters. Davos is known for drawing a mix of politicians, business leaders and high-profile guests, so the sight of the pair together quickly caught attention.

Neither Schmidt nor Burkandt has confirmed that they are in a relationship. A source close to Schmidtt told The New York Post that while Burkandt was part of his entourage in Davos, “this is just a friendship, not a relationship.”

Schmidt led Google from 2001 to 2011, overseeing a period of rapid expansion that turned the company into one of the most powerful technology firms in the world. He later served as executive chairman of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, and has remained active in policy and defence-related discussions in Washington and Europe.

Despite his public profile, Schmidt has typically kept his private life out of the spotlight. He has been married to philanthropist Wendy Boyle since 1980. Over the years, there have been media reports describing their marriage as open, though Schmidt has rarely addressed such claims directly.

Burkandt, meanwhile, has built a career in modelling and has appeared in fashion campaigns and magazine features. In Germany, she is also known as the daughter of Markus Söder, one of the country’s most prominent conservative politicians. Söder has not commented publicly on the reports. Burkandt is currently believed to be pursuing a PhD in New York City.

Much of the online discussion has centred on the 43-year age difference between Schmidt and Burkandt. Public reaction has been mixed, with some questioning the focus on private matters and others debating whether public figures should expect greater scrutiny.

For now, the story remains rooted in photographs and tabloid reporting. Without direct confirmation from Schmidt or Burkandt, the details of their relationship remain unclear. What is certain is that even offstage at Davos, the lives of powerful business figures continue to draw intense public interest.