V Stiviano, Donald Sterling’s rumored ex mistress, was ordered by a Los Angeles court to return $2.6 million to the Sterling Trust and Sterling’s wife, Shelly Sterling.

V Stiviano Ordered To Return Expensive Gifts

Stiviano, 32, first became a household name after she allegedly leaked the racist recordings of then-LA Clippers owner Sterling, 80, in May of 2014. Though many, including Sterling’s wife, believe Stiviano was Sterling’s mistress, both Stiviano and Sterling have denied any affair.

Shelly Sterling originally filed suit against Stiviano in early 2014, a month before the audio recording of Sterling’s racist rant were leaked, and now Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin Jr. has ruled that Stiviano must return the $2.6 million in gifts given to her by Sterling over the course of their relationship.

According to the suit, Sterling bought Stiviano a $1.8 million home in addition to three luxury cars – a Bentley, a Range Rover and one Ferrari – and a variety of smaller gifts, all valued at $800,000. Shelly maintained that Stiviano had manipulated her husband into bankrolling her expensive lifestyle, while Stiviano contested that the gifts were all offered to her by Sterling himself while he and his wife were separated. Shelly’s attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, said his client was “thrilled with the decision,” but Mr. Sterling, who was not a party in the suit, released a statement saying he frowned upon the entire conflict.

V Stiviano To Appeal

“The litigation against Ms. Stiviano is and has always been Shelly Sterling’s pet project and merely extended Ms. Stiviano’s time in the public arena. The sums spent by Shelly in pursuing this matter likely exceed any amount that will be recovered,” said Sterling’s attorney Bobby Samini. While Stiviano and Sterling appear to have parted ways, Stiviano said she still loved him in an Instagram post in March. “I’ll kiss you goodbye, Donald T. Sterling, my immortal friend. I will always LOVE you,” Stiviano wrote.

Stiviano has been using her Instagram page as a podium to speak out against Shelly Sterling. In one post, Stiviano suggested that various news outlets were controlled by the Sterlings. And, in another, Stiviano aimed to discredit Shelly Sterling’s lawyer, O’Donnell.

Stiviano’s attorney, Mac Nehoray, announced that his client would be appealing the decision. “We are very disappointed. Judges are supposed to interpret the law, not make them,” Nehoray said.