Early Life
Born Donald Samuel Tokowitz in Chicago, Illinois, on April 26, 1934, Donald Sterling's family moved to the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles when he was a child. He attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, where he was on the gymnastics team and served as class president, graduating in 1952. He then attended California State University, Los Angeles, and Southwestern University School of Law.
Rise to Success
Sterling began his professional career in 1961 as a divorce and personal injury attorney. However, his biggest ventures were in real estate. He purchased a 26-unit apartment building in Beverly Hills, laying the foundation for his real estate empire. Sterling acquired a large portfolio of properties in the Los Angeles area. He was known for acquiring and renovating distressed apartment buildings. He owned over 160 properties in Los Angeles. Sterling's real estate ventures led him to become one of the city's largest residential landlords. In 1981, Sterling bought the San Diego Clippers for $12.5 million.
Key Business Strategies
Sterling's primary business strategy revolved around real estate acquisition and management. He focused on purchasing apartment buildings and other properties in prime locations like Beverly Hills and the Westside of Los Angeles. He was known for identifying properties with potential and renovating them to increase their value. He built the Clippers into a profitable team, despite limited on-court success, he was named the worst owner in sports by numerous sources. The Clippers were sold for $2 billion in 2014.
Philanthropy
Through the Donald T. Sterling Charitable Foundation, Sterling supported charities focused on poverty, homelessness, and education. In 2007 he was building a $50 million facility to serve the homeless in downtown Los Angeles.