Early Life
Donald Samuel Tokowitz was born on April 26, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish immigrants. When he was two years old, his family moved to Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1952, where he was class president and involved in gymnastics. He then studied at California State University, Los Angeles, graduating in 1956, and later attended Southwestern University School of Law, graduating in 1960.
Rise to Success
Sterling began his career as a divorce and personal injury attorney in 1961. However, his biggest ventures were in real estate. His initial purchase of a 26-unit apartment building in Beverly Hills marked the beginning of his extensive property acquisitions. He went on to purchase the Lesser Towers, which he renamed the Sterling Towers, and later, the California Bank Building, which became Sterling Plaza. Sterling built a large real estate empire in Los Angeles.
Key Business Strategies
Sterling's strategy involved acquiring undervalued properties and strategically managing them, eventually building a vast real estate portfolio across Los Angeles, especially in the Westside and Koreatown. He was known for his focus on acquiring apartment buildings. He also purchased the Los Angeles Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million and later sold it for $2 billion.
Philanthropy
Through The Donald T. Sterling Charitable Foundation, Sterling supports various charities focused on poverty, homelessness, education, and literacy. Special emphasis is directed to programs benefiting at-risk children and families located in greater Los Angeles and southern California. His foundation has made grants to numerous community groups and schools.