[4] Sterling Equities is a diversified, family-run group of companies whose portfolio consists primarily of holdings in real estate, sports, and media in the New York area.

[1] These formerly included the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (an interest was acquired in 1980, and it was a full owner from 2002 to 2020, when Steve Cohen bought the team and the Mets' low-level Minor League Baseball affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones), but continue to include SportsNet New York (a regional sports TV network it formed in 2005), the New York Excelsior of Overwatch League,[5] Sterling Project Development, and a number of real estate investment portfolios and real estate services businesses (it has developed nearly 25 million square feet of commercial property).

Madoff trustee Irving Picard alleged that the Sterling Equities had pocketed millions in fictitious profits.

For example, Sterling Equities partner Greg Katz had 31 accounts with Madoff dating from 1992 and withdrew over $23 million in illegal profit.

[14] According to Picard, Sterling Equities used funds withdrawn from their wives’ accounts to meet their personal and/or business financial obligations.