Day: June 19, 2024

Elon Musk says he wants Optimus to be a ‘good looking robot’ that people think of as a friend

Photo of Tesla's humanoid robot called Optimus. It has white body parts and an all-black head with a blue light
The prototype for Optimus was first revealed in September 2022.

  • Elon Musk says he wants Tesla's humanoid robot to be considered a friend.
  • Musk also joked that the company wanted to make the robot "good-looking."
  • Musk discussed the robot's potential at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Elon Musk wants you to think of Tesla's Optimus robot as a friend.

Speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Musk discussed Tesla's ambitions for its humanoid robot.

"I think people will start to regard their personal Optimus robot as sort of a friend," he said, likening it to characters from pop culture like Star Wars' robot R2-D2.

While he clarified that Tesla was not currently planning to make Optimus look like a person, Musk joked that the company wanted to make the robot "good-looking."

The Tesla CEO said the fully functional bots would be capable of performing a wide range of tasks, acting as a sort of personal assistant for a household.

"You can just ask it to walk your dog, take care of your house, babysit the kids, cook dinner, play the piano — so it's a generalized humanoid robot," he said.

He believes that each person will have their own robot and there will be others working in different industries, suggesting that robots could outnumber humans in the future.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Musk has touted Tesla's Optimus robots as one of the company's most valuable assets.

"I think Optimus will be more valuable than everything else combined," Musk said during a Tesla earnings call in April.

"Because if you've got a sentient humanoid robot that is able to navigate reality and do tasks at request, there is no meaningful limit to the size of the economy," he said.

Tesla may have already put the robots to work on the factory floor.

In a rundown of the company's achievements since 2018 on X, Tesla said it had deployed two Optimus robots "performing tasks in the factory autonomously."

Musk has remained optimistic that Optimus will begin shipping next year. However, he's also acknowledged that it was "impossible to make a precise prediction."

Read the original article on Business Insider

11 movie sequels nobody wanted and 9 we desperately need

grindelwald Fantastic beasts crimes of grindelwald
No one cared about the "Crimes of Grindelwald."

  • Plenty of movies get unnecessary sequels — we're looking at you, "Speed" and "Pitch Perfect."
  • Yet there are many films that never became franchises or got stopped halfway through.
  • Here are 11 films we wish had quit while they were ahead and nine sequels we're still pining for.

After Pixar's latest film, "Inside Out 2," was released on June 14, it scored the best opening weekend at the box office since "Barbie" last summer, with a domestic opening of $155 million.

Whether or not you think we needed "Inside Out 2" is a different matter.

The first "Inside Out," which introduced audiences to a pre-teen named Riley and her emotions, was a huge hit that culminated in the film winning the Oscar for best animated feature in 2016. A sequel, therefore, was what Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio called "a pretty safe bet for success." But after a neatly wrapped up original story, perhaps audiences could have been content with imagining what the rest of Riley's life was like.

Hollywood is a fickle place. Sometimes, sequels are made that absolutely no one cares about, while box-office smashes never get the chance to continue their stories. Here are some of the worst sequels we've seen, and some sequels we're still waiting for.

After two "Fantastic Beasts" sequels, we can definitively say we did not need them, and we don't need two more.
Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald in "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."
"Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore."

Was anyone really clamoring for the story of Newt Scamander, the Wizarding World's first magizoologist, when the first "Fantastic Beasts" movie was released back in 2016?

Not really.

But it had been five years since the final "Harry Potter" film, and as anyone living in the 21st century knows, intellectual property is everything.

But when the sequel, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," was released in 2018, fans were treated to a confusing story in which it felt like dozens of characters were introduced for no reason, there was no real plot, and it ended with a twist that potentially could have upended years of beloved canon. It has a dismal 36% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a slightly less dismal audience score of 53%.

In the six years since "Grindelwald," things have only gotten more uncomfortable in the Wizarding World between Johnny Depp's myriad controversies, creator JK Rowling's comments that many deemed transphobic, and Ezra Miller's criminal troubles.

"The Secrets of Dumbledore" was released in April 2022 to little fanfare with a still-low Rotten Tomatoes score of 46% and the lowest box-office receipts in the franchise's history, according to Games Radar.

Do we truly need two more of these movies that are ostensibly about Newt, who ends up feeling like an afterthought in his own story? Probably not, which is why not even Warner Bros. will commit to a sequel.

Apparently, even Lionsgate knew the "Divergent" sequels were a bust — the studio didn't even bother to finish the franchise.
insurgent shailene woodley theo james
"Insurgent."

In the wake of the mega-success of "The Hunger Games" franchise, every other dystopian young-adult saga was turned into a movie series ("Maze Runner," "Ender's Game," "The Host," etc.), but the only one that came relatively close to replicating that success was "Divergent," which was released in 2014.

"Divergent" starred Shailene Woodley as Beatrice, aka Tris, a 16-year-old who lives in a society that is divided into five factions based on personality traits — but, gasp, Tris has multiple traits and is known as "divergent." Confused? Understandably so, which is perhaps why the first film barely made a cultural impact and has a low 41% on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, two more sequels were produced (2015's "Insurgent," which has a 28%, and 2016's "Allegiant," which has an 11%). As was the 2010s custom, the last book of the series was to be split into two movies, "Allegiant" and "Ascendant," but the reception of "Allegiant" was so poor that the conclusion of the franchise was canceled.

So, we ask: Did we really need "Insurgent" and "Allegiant" if there wasn't going to be a fourth and final film? The answer is no.

"Dirty Dancing" did not need a sequel.
dirty dancing havana nights
"Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights."

"Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" isn't technically a sequel, more of a spin-off or re-telling, but still: Why?

"Dirty Dancing," while beloved and an inarguable classic, hasn't aged in the best way when you think about the weird age gap between Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze), nor is the abortion plotline necessary in any way … but it's from the '80s, and we cut it some slack because of the electric chemistry between Grey and Swayze and its lovable cheesiness.

"Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" was released 17 years later, in 2004, and didn't really add anything to the plot to make it less problematic. In fact, it made it weirder by moving the story to Cuba, which added some political and racial tension that "Dirty Dancing 2" is simply not equipped to handle, as Roger Ebert pointed out.

Movie studios: Not every classic needs a remake or a sequel. Please, let some sleeping dogs lie.

Alas, the studios didn't listen. A "Dirty Dancing" legacy sequel is set for 2025.

Neither did "Pitch Perfect," and it got two.
pitch perfect 2
"Pitch Perfect 2."

There's no logical reason for a story about one girl's experience joining her college's a cappella group to turn into a trilogy of absolutely wild films … besides money.

"Pitch Perfect," released in 2012, is a charming enough comedy that introduced audiences to Rebel Wilson, Ben Platt, Skylar Astin, and Anna Kendrick as a movie star. Also, that song with the cups. It was funny and told a complete story.

Then, it made six times its budget, according to Box Office Mojo, and suddenly this a cappella comedy became a franchise that had no real reason for existing — by "Pitch Perfect 3" in 2017, the crew wasn't even in college anymore, eliminating any reason they had for singing a cappella at all.

Fans had been clamoring for it, but "Space Jam: A New Legacy" made us all reconsider.
Lola Bunny in Space Jam 2
"Space Jam: A New Legacy."

To my fellow '90s kids out there: I'm sorry to tell you, but the 1996 sports comedy classic "Space Jam" isn't a good movie. Our nostalgia and love of Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes has clouded our judgment and made us think that the 2021 sequel would be a good idea.

We should've known that we had a real problem on our hands when the internet lost its mind regarding the redesign of Lola Bunny. We were warned again when the characters of "A Clockwork Orange" were visible in the background of this movie co-starring LeBron James and a cartoon bunny.

But the true nail in the coffin came when we found out that the villain, played by Don Cheadle, was named Al G. Rhythm … get it?

"The Mummy" is a classic, and "The Mummy 2" has some nostalgia attached to it, but the third "Mummy" movie is an abomination.
the mummy 3
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."

As clothing brand Super Yaki rightfully says, "'The Mummy' (1999) is perfect." Its sequel, 'The Mummy Returns," released in 2001, has its flaws, but the whole gang reunites for another romp in 1930s Egypt and it's a good time.

Seven years later, Universal trotted out Brendan Fraser's Rick O'Connell yet again for the 2008 film "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," which inexplicably leaves Egypt behind, recasts the inimitable Rachel Weisz with Maria Bello (no shade, but #NotMyEvie), and focuses on their son, Alex.

Do not even get us started on the 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise. In a word: No.

"Sex and the City 2" almost ruined the legacy of the entire show.
sex and the city movie 2
"Sex and the City 2."

"Sex and the City 2" manages to be boring, racially insensitive, and extremely long, all while being a tourism ad for Abu Dhabi.

Any "SATC" fan should be so grateful that "And Just Like That" was released in 2021 — even if Miranda's character was essentially ruined, at least it's better than how we left our gals in 2010.

There was no need for a "Snow White" sequel without Snow White, as evidenced by "The Huntsman: Winter's War."
The Huntsman
Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron in "The Huntsman: Winter's War"

"Snow White and the Huntsman" co-starred Kristen Stewart as the titular princess and Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman. The 2012 film was a modest box-office hit and received middling reviews, but a sequel was still greenlit.

But when pictures emerged of Stewart and the film's married director Rupert Sanders engaging in some PDA in Us Weekly, both were axed from the 2016 sequel.

"They should've put me in that movie! It would've been better," Stewart told The Independent in 2019. "They didn't put me in that movie because I went through such a highly publicized scandal, and so they were like scared of touching that."

So, that's how we ended up with "The Huntsman: A Winter's War," a prequel/sequel to the "Snow White" film that essentially doesn't exist.

The less we speak of "Speed 2: Cruise Control," the better.
speed 2 cruise control
"Speed 2: Cruise Control."

There is no need for a sequel to 1994's "Speed" without Keanu Reeves.

Sandra Bullock is a charming movie star, but even she cannot overcome the gaping hole left behind by Reeves, especially not when he was replaced by Jason Patric in the 1997 sequel, who tries his best but is just … not Keanu Reeves.

"Jaws" is a perfect movie, so it hurts that much more to talk about "Jaws 2," "Jaws 3D," and "Jaws: The Revenge."
jaws the revenge
"Jaws: The Revenge."

When "Jaws" was released in June 1975, it created the idea of a summer blockbuster, and the world has never been the same.

So it makes sense that Universal would want to capitalize on the success of the shark-hunting phenomenon — but when it became clear that director Steven Spielberg would not be directing the film, plans should've been scrapped.

Instead, we got "Jaws 2," which Rotten Tomatoes pointed out "has no reason to exist," "Jaws 3D," which the site also said had "no evident reason to exist," and "Jaws: The Revenge," which features a roaring shark — yes, an undersea animal that roars. It also has a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Was anyone really asking for five sequels to 2013's "The Purge"?
the purge
"The Purge."

Somehow, the premise of "What would happen if all crime were legal for a night" has spawned a multi-film franchise — four sequels, to be exact, plus one TV show — and a complex mythology. And don't worry — a sixth film is on the way, according to ComicBook.com.

There are plenty of other horror films, some on this list, in fact, that haven't gotten sequels yet. We'd trade at least one "Purge" film for one of those other ones.

On the other hand, please keep making "Escape Room" sequels forever, à la "Halloween" or "Nightmare on Elm Street."
escape room 2
"Escape Room: Tournament of Champions."

Maybe it's just us, but the 2019 horror film "Escape Room" and its 2021 sequel "Tournament of Champions" were both interesting, visually inventive films that we'd like to see more of.

Is "Escape Room" the most prestige horror franchise of our time? Not exactly, but there's something satisfying about people solving (or not solving) puzzles. As many on X (formerly known as Twitter) have said, "I'd give anything for an 'escape room 3' movie."

It's wild that we still have barely any "Crazy Rich Asians" sequel news.
Crazy Rich Asians Movie 2
"Crazy Rich Asians."

"Crazy Rich Asians" was a phenomenon when it was released in 2018, making over $200 million worldwide. It was the first major Hollywood film to have a predominantly Asian cast since "The Joy Luck Club" in 1993; it made stars out of Gemma Chan, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, and Constance Wu; and it made us all want to travel to Singapore immediately.

The film is based on a trilogy of novels by Kevin Kwan — the next two books are "China Rich Girlfriend" and "Rich People Problems" — so where are the sequels? It's been six years — we want more Michelle Yeoh sternly playing mahjong.

In May 2022, Deadline reported that a spin-off focusing on Gemma Chan's character and her teased on-screen love interest, played by Harry Shum Jr., was in early development.

Two years later, Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, told Variety that now a sequel TV series is in the works. Put these characters on the big screen!

When Nicolas Cage said that "National Treasure 3" wasn't happening, hearts everywhere broke a little bit.
national treasure
"National Treasure."

Has a movie ever made you feel more patriotic than 2004's "National Treasure" or its (lesser, but still entertaining) 2007 sequel, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets"? If you're a '90s or 2000s kid, the answer is no.

Cage plays treasure hunter/American history expert/cryptographer/stealer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin Gates. Already, you can tell it's a perfect movie.

While the first two were both financially successful, and the second film ends with a perfect tease for a third installment, "National Treasure 3" has been pushed back many times. Finally, in 2022, Cage told The Hollywood Reporter that a third movie was not happening.

He might want to check again, though. Director Jon Turteltaub said on a podcast in May 2024 that a script for a third movie is being written. "There's a very, very good writer writing it right now who tends to write really good movies. If the script comes out close to good, and you can see the finish line from where you are, we're making the movie," he said.

Yes, a Disney+ series was released with Justin Bartha reprising his role as Riley Poole in 2022, but it was not the same without Cage and Diane Kruger. It was canceled after one season, Entertainment Weekly reported.

We're still waiting for official confirmation of a "Happy Death Day 3."
happy death day
"Happy Death Day."

"Happy Death Day" is another horror franchise we'd like to see continue for at least one more movie. Both the original 2017 film and its 2019 sequel, "Happy Death 2U," were critically and financially successful, and they focused on a genre that has been fascinating to Hollywood for decades: "One of Those Infinite Time-Loop Situations You Might Have Heard About."

Director Christopher Landon has said he's ready to go on a third film, "Happy Death Day to Us," but is just waiting for the studio to get on board.

"It's a trilogy. I've got to make the third one. Maybe after 'Freaky' we'll figure it out. Both of us really want to do it. So hopefully we'll figure it out," he told Entertainment Tonight in 2020.

If Disney is going to give "Frozen" multiple sequels, "Tangled" deserves one too, not just an animated TV series.
Tangled
"Tangled."

Fourteen years on from the original, it's extremely unlikely that we'd get a sequel to the 2010 Disney film "Tangled," which focuses on the classic story of Rapunzel escaping her tower, with the help of thief-with-a-heart-of-gold Flynn Rider (real name Eugene Fitzherbert).

But if "Frozen," which arguably told a more complete story than "Tangled" did, is getting multiple sequels, there's no reason that "Tangled" shouldn't have gotten one, too. We want to see more of Flynn and Rapunzel's adventures! The (charming) animated series may tide you over, but we want a real, big-budget sequel, too.

It's rude that every other superhero movie got a sequel except for "Sky High."
sky high layla will
"Sky High."

"Sky High," released in 2005, was many kids' first exposure to superhero movies, as it was a little more child-friendly than the dark story of Batman in "Batman Begins" and not as scary as the horror-tinged "Spider-Man 2."

Instead "Sky High" told the story of Will Stronghold, the son of two iconic superheroes, who might have to contend with the fact that he's "only" a sidekick while attending a high school just for kids with superpowers.

If you've seen the movie — spoiler alert! — you know that Will comes into his own and gains the powers of both of his parents and even gets the girl by the end. But then what? Now that Will's a bona-fide superhero, what's his life like?

According to Gizmodo, there was a possibility of the film getting a college-set sequel, "Save U," but it never materialized, and we're still bitter about it.

Since we've all retroactively decided that Andrew Garfield was a perfect Spider-Man, where's "The Amazing Spider-Man 3"?
Andrew Garfield's version of Spider-Man emerging from a portal in "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
"Spider-Man: No Way Home."

Unlike "Sky High," "The Amazing Spider-Man" did get a sequel: the extremely underwhelming "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," in 2014, two years after the original. And we thought that was that. Garfield, who went on to become a two-time Oscar nominee and Tony winner, and generally beloved movie star, moved on.

That all changed when Garfield, and OG Spidey Togey Maguire, were brought back for Tom Holland's third Spider-Man film, "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Arguably, Garfield gave the best performance in the film (we see you, Willem Dafoe fans, but we disagree), and fans began the campaign for "Amazing Spider-Man 3."

Sure, why not? Sony's clearly still looking for its universe's Spider-Man, and Garfield deserves another shot.

The creative forces behind "Edge of Tomorrow" promised us a sequel, but almost a decade later, we're still waiting.
The Edge of Tomorrow
"Edge of Tomorrow."

At this point in Tom Cruise's career, this entry into his action-movie pantheon is underrated.

The 2014 sci-fi action film is another time-loop situation, this time with Cruise playing a public affairs officer in the US Army despite having no fighting experience whatsoever. Instead, he dies over and over again, reliving the same day, and picking up combat skills as he goes, along with the help of Emily Blunt's extremely capable Rita Vrataski.

In 2016, two years after its release, screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie told Collider that the idea for a sequel was "locked and loaded," but he could "only say it's a going concern" without giving any details.

Ten years later, there has been no "Edge of Tomorrow 2," but there have been three more "Mission: Impossible" movies, and at least one more is on the way.

"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is the true seafaring adventure film from 2003 that deserved multiple sequels.
master and commander
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."

"Master and Commander" was released the same year as Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," in 2001. Clearly, only one became a giant franchise spawning multiple sequels … but we'd argue that perhaps it was the wrong one.

"Master and Commander" is based on the Aubrey–Maturin series of historical novels, with "Far Side of the World" taking elements from three of author Patrick O'Brian's series. Russell Crowe reunited with his "A Beautiful Mind" costar Paul Bettany, and they played Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.

While it's not as "fun" as a classic pirate tale, "Master and Commander" is an entertaining and truly breathtaking spectacle. There are 20 Aubrey—Maturin novels in total — it's time to either reboot the series with a new cast or bring back Crowe and Bettany for a second installment on the high seas.

Read the original article on Business Insider

A climber who summited the world’s tallest peaks explains how he trains by keeping his body in Everest-mode

Garrett Madison
Mountaineer and Everest guide Garrett Madison has made a career out of climbing the world's tallest, most challenging peaks.

  • Mountaineer and Everest guide Garrett Madison summits the tallest mountains in the world.
  • He's summited Everest 14 times, and just earned his second "triple crown," a rare mountaineering achievement.
  • When he's not on expedition, he keeps his body in Everest-mode by staying active in the mountains of his home state, Washington.

Garrett Madison has built a career on risking his life to stand atop the world's tallest peaks. The mountaineer and expedition guide has summited Mt. Everest 14 times, and has led more than 80 other climbers to the top since 2009.

In May, he earned his second "triple crown" by summiting Mt. Everest and two of its neighboring peaks, Mt. Lhotse and Mt. Nuptse, in a single season. Few have achieved this rare feat.

"I feel really lucky and privileged to get to go on these expeditions," he told Business Insider.

But this epic lifestyle also pushes his body to the limit. Being in shape can mean the difference between life or death when climbing a nearly 30,000-foot-tall mountain.

Group of climbers
Madison (left) with the members of his expedition team this season.

Low oxygen levels, brutally cold temperatures, and long days spent navigating treacherous terrain take a toll on the body. Even fit mountaineers can succumb to exhaustion, altitude sickness, or injury.

"Fortunately, I'm on expedition quite a bit throughout the year on big mountains, so my body and mind kind of stay in mountain shape," Madison said.

But during those rare times when he isn't on expedition, he's preparing for the next one. Madison has developed a strategy for keeping his body in Everest mode in the off-season.

Always seek high-elevation

Climber in oxygen mask
Garrett Madison geared up in an oxygen mask while on expedition. On top of Mt. Everest, oxygen is scarce.

When he isn't climbing massive Himalayan peaks, Madison spends time skiing and hiking in the smaller, but still mighty mountains in and around his home state of Washington.

"Continuing to stay in the mountains throughout the year is very, very beneficial if that's where you want to be," he said.

That's because the body adapts to the low-oxygen levels at higher elevations. The top of Mt. Everest has only a third of the oxygen available at sea level. Spending time in low-oxygen environments —even ones that are less extreme than the top of Everest — actually changes your blood.

Lack of oxygen causes the body to produce more red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It also produces more hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that helps them do their job. At extreme elevations, climbers' supercharged blood helps make sure all their organs receive enough oxygen.

This enhanced fleet of blood cells lasts long after a climber has returned to low elevation, sticking around for about 120 days. But after that, they'll start to die off. That's why Madison makes sure to spend as much time as he can at high altitudes to keep his blood Everest-ready.

How you can whip your body into Everest shape

A woman running along a ridge
It's best to train for a high-altitude climb outdoors on hilly terrain. But if you don't have access to that kind of space, you can tailor your gym workout toward your goals.

When he's not working out at great heights, Madison said he makes sure to stay active in the gym.

"If I'm not skiing or out hiking or climbing, I'll definitely go to the gym and do a mix of strength training, and some balance, flexibility, agility work," he said.

His company, Madison Mountaineering, has even created a training guide that can help whip your body into shape for an Everest-level climbing expedition.

The cardio exercises include things like hour-long runs and steep day hikes. Muscle training includes lunges, push-ups, and jumping exercises.

It's best to train for an expedition outdoors on hilly terrain, according to the Madison Mountaineering website. But not everyone has access to this where they live.

If you're limited to working out in the gym but want to train for a big climb, try the stair mill. It mimics mountain terrain by making you lift a portion of your body weight each step, the website says.

Training for a mountaineering expedition takes a lot of time and work, but all of that effort is important to your safety on the mountain.

"It's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it," Madison said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Former Google CEO reportedly sold his Atherton mansion for $22.5 million. See inside the stunning estate.

Eric Schmidt side-by-side Atherton home
Eric Schmidt bought his mansion for around $2 million in 1990, according to Zillow, and is now trying to sell it for $24.5 million.

  • Eric Schmidt, Google's ex-CEO, found a buyer for his Atherton mansion.
  • The property, located in the most expensive US zip code, includes a main home and a guest house.
  • Schmidt, who served as Google and Alphabet chairman, has a net worth of around $23.9 billion.

Google's former CEO, Eric Schmidt, and his wife, Wendy, found a buyer for their mansion in Atherton, California two weeks after listing it for $24.5 million, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The sale closed a month later, Mansion Global reported, with a price of $22.5 million.

The 5,265 square-foot listing includes a main home and a guest house in the most expensive zip code in the US. Schmidt's current net worth is estimated at around $23.9 billion, according to Forbes' ranking.

Schmidt, 69, served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011. He later served as chairman of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, until 2018.

Since leaving his role as CEO, Schmidt turned his focus to tech investments and philanthropy.

Scroll on to see inside the mansion.

The five-bedroom home at the top of a cul-de-sac in Atherton was Schmidt's primary residence for the last several decades.
Former Google CEO Eric Shmidt
Schmidt purchased the Atherton home for $2 million in 1990.

The former CEO purchased the Atherton home for around $2 million in 1990, according to estimates by Zillow. The home was built in 1969, according to the listing.

Atherton, a small town in San Mateo County, is known to be a hotspot for tech moguls, like former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, and former HP CEO Meg Whitman.
Eric Shmidt Atherton home
Other tech titans like Sheryl Sandberg and Paul Allen also purchased Atherton homes.

Tech investors Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, as well as early Tesla investor Alan Salzman, have also bought properties in Atherton.
Eric Schmidt Atherton home staircase
The home has dark hardwood flooring and traditional nodes of design.

The prestigious town is about a 45-minute drive to San Francisco and less than 20 minutes from the headquarters of Google, Meta, and Tesla. The average household income in Atherton is over $450,000.

It isn't the only home Schmidt bought in California. He bought Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi's 7,000-square-foot Montecito mansion in 2007.
Google former CEO Eric Schmidt
Schmidt's portfolio includes multiple properties on the East and West Coast.

He bought the home for $20 million and used to rent it out for weddings. However, he reportedly struggled to keep renting it after Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries used the home as their wedding venue and divorced soon after.

The billionaire also bought a Southern California "French chateau" in Los Angeles in 2014, about five minutes from the Playboy Mansion.

He also bought homes on the East Coast. In 2013, he purchased a $15 million penthouse in New York City and reportedly spent millions soundproofing it.
Eric Schmidt Atherton home kitchen
The Atherton kitchen has marble counters, white wooden cabinets, and a steel stove area.

Schmidt and his wife purchased a home in Nantucket in 1999, where she reportedly spent most of her time.

The billionaire also reportedly paid $67.6 million for a 267-foot superyacht in 2023.

The exterior of the guest house has an outdoor fireplace, an amphitheater on one side, and a cascading water feature on the other.
Eric Schmidt Atherton home listed
The home was designed by Schwanke architecture in 1969.

Both the guest house and main home were designed by Schwanke Architecture.

The home has multiple terraces and access to the outdoors in almost every room.
Eric Schmidt Atherton backyard area
The home has ample amounts of natural light.

The home has ample access to natural light with large open doors and windows throughout the home.

The estate has five bedrooms, eight total bathrooms, and a fireplace in the living room and family room.
Eric Schmidt Atherton kitchen
The estate has five bedrooms and eight total bathrooms.

The two-story home also has a wet bar, according to the online listing by The reSolve Group.

The sold mansion includes three acres of park-like grounds and an outdoor pool.
Eric Shmidt pool backyard
The property has an outdoor pool and three acres of park-like grounds.

The property has a 3.36 acre lot and 5,265 square foot living area, according to the listing.

Like many Atherton homes, landscaping surrounding the house creates a secluded feel to the property.
Eric Schmidt Atherton home backyard
Many Atherton homes are secluded by landscaping or fencing.

Both the front and back of the house are shaded by large trees and greenery. The back of the house also has a fenced area to create privacy.

The estate includes a diverse selection of mature plants and specimen trees from Amdega Conservatory imported from the UK.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt greenhouse
The home features a greenhouse.

The greenhouse is equipped with wooden shelves, a sink, and black and white floor tiles.

The home also has several areas for growing plants or produce.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt greenhouse/garden
The home has a greenhouse and outdoor garden area.

In addition to the greenhouse, the outdoor area has several planting plots.

The home embraces the California landscape of while incorporating European design.
Eric Schmidt Atherton home living room
The dining room has a traditional design with large windows and greenery.

Dark wooden furniture and flooring contrast against bright green outdoor openings in the estate.

Read the original article on Business Insider