Shelly Sterling, the wife of Donald Sterling and former co-owner of the Clippers, was thrust into the national spotlight after the 2014 controversy in which her husband's racist rants were recorded and released to the public.
Shelly's role in the tumult has been revisited in FX's "Clipped," which aims to take viewers behind the scenes of the dysfunctional Clippers under the Sterling's ownership.
Here's what the show didn't tell you about Shelly Sterling.
WATCH: 'Clipped' and more on Hulu with Disney+ bundle
Who is Shelly Sterling?
Rochelle Sterling, or Shelly as she is more commonly known, was born on Sept. 2, 1934, in Wilmington, California. She met Donald Sterling during her senior year at Roosevelt High School while on the cheerleading team and married him in 1955. They had three children together — Chris, Joanna and Scott.
Shelly was the co-owner of the Clippers, along with her husband. The two built their wealth through real estate — they were considered the largest residential landlords in LA County at one time, according to Ramona Shelburne's "The Sterling Affairs" podcast. She reportedly played a role in managing the family's extensive holdings, though the specific nature of her contributions remains unclear.
Shelly and Donald bought the San Diego Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million as an investment, according to Forbes. She negotiated the sale of the team to Steve Ballmer for $2 billion in 2014.
Shelly insisted that she was innocent in Donald's racist fiasco, but she had her own accusations of racism back in a 2007 housing discrimination lawsuit alleging that she made inflammatory remarks about Latino and Black tenants.
Her net worth has been estimated at $5.4 billion as of 2022, per the LA Business Journal.
MORE: What to know about Donald Sterling's former mistress V. Stiviano
Did Shelly Sterling divorce Donald Sterling?
Shelly and Donald have gone through many ups and downs throughout their marriage, which began in 1955. They were estranged at the time that the Sterling tapes were released, and Shelly did file for divorce in 2015.
"My son died about a year ago, and that was one of the things that came between us," Shelly told the New York Times in 2014. "I mean, he’s never been a real husband, as far as being with the kids. And there’s many issues."
The two reconciled in 2016 and remain married today.
MORE: Where is Donald Sterling now?
Where is Shelly Sterling now?
The 89-year-old is still a fixture at Clippers games. As part of the conditions of the sale, she retained courtside season tickets, parking and three rings if the team ever wins a title. She also was given the titles of "Clippers Number One Fan" and "Owner Emeritus."
Who plays Shelly Sterling in 'Clipped'?
Australian actress Jacki Weaver played the role of Shelly Sterling in "Clipped."
Weaver was nominated for a 2011 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the movie Animal Kingdom. She also received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the film Silver Linings Playbook.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
