Former Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Files For Divorce From Wife
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Donald Sterling, former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly 60 years, Shelly.
The paperwork was filed Wednesday afternoon in Superior Court in Los Angeles, as Sterling cited irreconcilable differences.
» Complete Coverage: Donald Sterling Scandal
The former owner became embroiled in scandal last year when audio was leaked to the public of Sterling making racist comments to his associate and alleged mistress, V. Stiviano.
The backlash cost Sterling his team, which he had owned since 1981.
"I think he only made the billions after they got married," family law attorney Kelly Chang Rickert said. "So before, he was just an average guy. Now he's a billionaire and he has to divide half of it."
Shelly Sterling had her husband removed as director of the family trust that owned the Clippers, allowing her to sell the team to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.
The National Basketball Association banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million.
Forbes lists Donald Sterling's net worth at $2.9 billion.
Shelly reportedly had the ability to file for divorce last year after the scandal initially came out, but decided not to.
"Let's say that they're divorcing. That means that he would get half, she would get half, versus if he were to die in his old age," Rickert said. "Everything would just go to Shelly."
