Eric L. Smidt is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Chairman and CEO of Harbor Freight Tools, the leading discount tool retailer in the United States. Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1960, his childhood was challenging: his father sent him to an orphanage when he was nine after his mother developed multiple sclerosis. He left home on his 16th birthday to live in his own apartment.

Smidt graduated from Grant High School in Van Nuys. His connection to the business began early: his father started Harbor Freight Tools in 1968 (originally as a mail-order tool business). Eric joined the company and quickly developed a core philosophy: deliver Unbeatable Value by sourcing tools directly from factories and removing layers of cost, a strategy he realized was necessary because most tools were over-priced.

Eric Smidt was named President in 1985 at age 25 and became CEO in 1999. In 1999, he bought his father's half of the company, becoming the sole owner. Under his leadership, Harbor Freight Tools scaled exponentially, expanding from a humble mail-order business to America's leading tool store with over 1,600 retail hardware stores in 48 states and generating billions in sales.

His strategy centers on maintaining quality while offering low prices, achieved through vertical integration and building a specialized team of engineers and experts. His philanthropic commitment is structural: he founded The Smidt Foundation, whose signature program, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, supports skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools, addressing the critical lack of vocational training. Smidt is also a prominent Los Angeles Democrat who has hosted fundraiser dinners for high-profile political figures.

Eric Smidt's social impact is structural and focused on vocational education and job readiness. His Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program is a major contribution to addressing the skills gap in the U.S. workforce, directly supporting the skilled trades.

His career provides a compelling narrative of a self-made billionaire overcoming early life adversity to build a massive, essential retail business and dedicate his wealth to community empowerment and education.

Eric Smidt maintains the professional, composed style of an executive who began in the skilled trades. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic is one of grounded authority, reflecting his decades of leadership in the industrial retail sector.

Residing in Los Angeles, California, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is defined by his commitment to value, operational excellence, and his deep focus on vocational education.