Former NBA owner Donald Sterling’s girlfriend must return $2.6 million to his wife

Los Angeles judge rules in favour of the embattled billionaire’s wife

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling gestures while watching the Clippers play the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA preseason basketball game (AP)

In the latest in a bizarre story that involves racism, riches, a mistress and the NBA, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled that the girlfriend of former NBA owner Donald Sterling must return $2.6 million to the owner’s wife.

V. Stiviano was ordered to surrender a $1.8 million duplex and about $800,000 in gifts, including a luxury sports car and cash, according to USA Today.

Shelly Sterling, the wife of the former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, claimed that Ms Stiviano manipulated her 80-year-old husband to get the expensive gifts.

The relationship between Mr Sterling and Ms Stiviano, who is decades younger, came to the public’s attention after the woman released an audio recording of Mr Sterling telling her not to associate with black people.

That recording caused outrage in the majority-black NBA, resulting in the NBA banning Mr Sterling for life and forcing the sale of the Clippers. Mrs Sterling eventually was able to wrestle control of the team and sell it for $2 billion to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.