After his father's death from cancer in 1952, Sobrato's mother sold the restaurant and used the proceeds to begin investing in real estate.
[4] Sobrato began his own real estate investing in 1957, while still in college at Santa Clara University.
[2][5] Beginning in 1972 he worked closely with another successful Silicon Valley investor, Carl Berg, for many years.
[8] Sobrato and his son have both signed on the Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge to donate their wealth for charitable purposes.
[1] Major beneficiaries have included Santa Clara University,[1] Sobrato High School, and Bellarmine College Preparatory.