Robert Ellis Silberstein

Silberstein was born into a wealthy family of Jewish garment manufacturers in Elberon, New Jersey.[2][3][4] He graduated from West Virginia University and tried teaching.

Silberstein was married to Diana Ross from 1971 to 1977.[5] They have two biological children together: Tracee Ellis Ross, and Chudney Ross.[6] He is also close with his adoptive daughter Rhonda Ross Kendrick, who is Ross’ eldest daughter and whose biological father is Motown founder Berry Gordy. Rhonda was born at the beginning of Diana Ross’ marriage with Silberstein and was legally adopted by him and raised as his own daughter with Ross although he knew that Gordy was her biological father. Rhonda only learned at 13 that Berry Gordy was her biological father, which came as a relief to her as she had begun to notice that she did not look like her sisters and had questions.

Silberstein’s family came from a Jewish background.[7] Upon graduating from West Virginia University, he took up teaching at the same school but had to quit the job because of some issues with the principal there. He then entered the music industry.

In the 1970s, he managed Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood,[5][8] Billy Preston and Chaka Khan whom he discovered while managing Rufus.[9]