Robert Ellis Silberstein, A Jewish businessman from New Jersey met a singer in a men’s clothing store. He never officially managed her. Yet he married her, changed her life trajectory, raised her other man’s child, discovered multiple superstars, then disappeared from view with $50 million. Now 80 years old, Robert Ellis Silberstein is the music industry’s quietest major figure. The question is: who really was Robert Ellis Silberstein?
ROBERT ELLIS SILBERSTEIN: BASIC FACTS
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Ellis Silberstein (Bob Ellis) |
| Born | January 5, 1946, Elberon, New Jersey |
| Age | 80 years old (as of 2026) |
| Net Worth | $50 million |
| Education | West Virginia University (BA Teaching, 1968) |
| Career Span | 1970-2000s (active), currently retired |
| Married | Diana Ross (January 20, 1971 – March 9, 1977) |
| Biological Children | Tracee Ellis Ross (born 1972), Chudney Ross (born 1975) |
| Stepchild Raised | Rhonda Ross Kendrick (Berry Gordy’s biological daughter) |
| Artists Managed | Billy Preston, Chaka Khan, Rufus, Meat Loaf, Ronnie Wood, Status Quo |
| Current Status | Retired from music business, private life |
| Notable Fact | Never officially managed his wife Diana Ross |
The Clothing Store Meeting That Changed Music History
- A men’s clothing store somewhere in Los Angeles. Robert Ellis Silberstein was working there.
Diana Ross walked in. She was married to Berry Gordy, Motown Records founder. But sources suggest their relationship was already fracturing.
She asked Robert for help picking out a gift for Berry. The store employee helped her choose.
Something clicked. Either her, or him, or both.
Within weeks, Diana Ross left Berry Gordy. Within months, she was dating Robert Ellis Silberstein.
By January 1971, they got married.
This is the story everyone tells about Robert Ellis Silberstein. And it’s probably true. But here’s what’s strange about it.
Diana Ross didn’t need Robert Ellis Silberstein. She was already famous. Already wealthy. Already powerful.
Berry Gordy was Motown. He’d made The Supremes the most successful girl group in history. He controlled Diana’s career completely.
When she left him for Robert Ellis Silberstein, she left her job security, her mentor, her company, everything.
Why would Diana Ross walk away from Motown and Berry Gordy to be with a random guy working in a clothing store?
The Secret: He Managed Everyone But Her
Here’s the contradiction that defines Robert Ellis Silberstein’s career.
He married Diana Ross. They stayed married six years. They had two children together.
But he never officially managed her.
Think about that. A music executive married to the most famous woman in his field. And he didn’t manage her career.
Why not? Because Berry Gordy owned Diana. Motown owned Diana. There was nothing for Robert Ellis Silberstein to manage.
What Robert Ellis Silberstein did instead was brilliant.
He looked around at other artists. Artists who weren’t Diana. Artists who weren’t already huge.
And he built something new.
The Rags-to-Riches Story Nobody Tells
Robert Ellis Silberstein was born into money. His family made their money from garment manufacturing in New Jersey.
Wealthy Jewish family. Comfortable upbringing.
He went to West Virginia University. Got a degree in teaching.
Then he taught at the same university. But it didn’t work out. Had a fight with his boss. Quit.
Moved to California.
By the time he was getting settled in Los Angeles, Robert Ellis Silberstein was maybe 24 years old. No music industry experience. No connections. No credentials.
Just a failed teacher with family money and ambition.
Then he met Diana Ross in a clothing store.
The Talent He Actually Discovered
Robert Ellis Silberstein never made his money from Diana Ross. He made it discovering other people.
Billy Preston. Gospel musician. Had the song “Nothing Takes the Place of You.” Robert Ellis Silberstein elevated him. Preston became a session musician on The Beatles’ recordings. Won Grammys. Became famous.
Rufus. American funk band. They were good but not major.
Then Robert Ellis Silberstein was managing them and saw something. One of the vocalists especially.
Her name was Chaka Khan. Real name Yvette Marie Stevens.
She was with Rufus. But Robert Ellis Silberstein saw her star potential.
He got her signed to a solo deal. She became massive. Multiple Grammy Awards. “Let Me Be Your Angle (Your Devil)” became a hit. “I’m Every Woman” became an anthem.
Chaka Khan owes her solo career to Robert Ellis Silberstein discovering her while managing Rufus.
Then there was Ronnie Wood. The Rolling Stones guitarist. Robert Ellis Silberstein managed his solo career.
Meat Loaf. The rock opera legend. Robert Ellis Silberstein managed him.
Status Quo. British rock band. Robert Ellis Silberstein managed them.
This is the real Robert Ellis Silberstein story. Not the Diana Ross marriage. Not the six years together.
The men and women he found and made famous.
The Marriage That Improved After the Divorce
Diana Ross and Robert Ellis Silberstein divorced on March 9, 1977.
By the early 1980s, Robert Ellis Silberstein said they’d become like brother and sister.
Think about that. Most divorces are bitter. Lawyers. Custody battles. Money fights.
These two divorced and then became closer.
Diana moved between Los Angeles and New York City. Robert Ellis Silberstein moved to Connecticut.
But they’d see each other. They’d talk. They’d coordinate about their daughters.
Tracee Ellis Ross grew up with both parents actively involved. Both attending school events. Both supporting her aspirations.
When Tracee became an actress, both parents were proud. Both attended her events.
That doesn’t happen often in Hollywood divorces.
Which suggests Robert Ellis Silberstein was different from typical Hollywood men. Less ego. More genuine.
The Rhonda Ross Question
Diana Ross had a daughter before marrying Robert Ellis Silberstein.
Rhonda Ross Kendrick. Born August 14, 1971. Seven months after Diana married Robert.
The father? Berry Gordy. Diana’s ex.
Robert Ellis Silberstein raised Rhonda as his own daughter. Legally adopted her. Treated her like his biological child.
Rhonda called Berry Gordy “Uncle B.B.” She didn’t realize Gordy was her biological father until she was 13.
Think about what Robert Ellis Silberstein did. He married a woman with a baby. Not his baby. Another man’s baby.
And he raised her. Loved her. Protected her. Made her feel like she belonged.
That’s not typical behavior for a 25-year-old ambitious music executive.
That’s the behavior of someone with character.
The Quiet Type in a Loud Industry
Here’s what’s remarkable about Robert Ellis Silberstein’s career. Despite managing some of the biggest names in music, his own name barely appears in media.
He’s not on album covers. Not in award show footage. Not giving interviews.
He worked behind the scenes. Completely.
Even now, at 80 years old, Robert Ellis Silberstein doesn’t do interviews. Doesn’t seek media attention. Doesn’t have social media.
The only reason his story is known at all is because his daughter Tracee Ellis Ross became famous and occasionally mentions him on social media.
She posts photos of them together. She credits him with her sense of humor. She talks about how much she loves him.
But Robert Ellis Silberstein himself? Silent.
In an industry that loves ego and self-promotion, Robert Ellis Silberstein chose invisibility.
The $50 Million Nobody Really Talks About
Robert Ellis Silberstein’s estimated net worth is $50 million.
Accumulated from decades as a music manager. From artist management fees. From production deals. From real estate investments.
$50 million is enormous. But it’s not billionaire money. It’s not “household name” money.
For someone who managed major artists from the 1970s into the 2000s, $50 million is honestly modest.
Did he give money away? Donate it? Invest it poorly? Or is the estimate just conservative?
We don’t know because Robert Ellis Silberstein doesn’t discuss his finances publicly.
What we do know: he owns properties in Los Angeles, New York City, and Connecticut.
He owns art. He’s an art collector.
He lives comfortably. But not ostentatiously.
The MoviePass Lawsuit Nobody Remembers
In 2018, Robert Ellis Silberstein was associated with MoviePass. The movie ticket subscription service.
He was on the board. Or involved somehow.
Then MoviePass went bankrupt. And lawsuits followed.
Robert Ellis Silberstein was named in a lawsuit citing “unlawful gender discrimination and sexual harassment.”
Wait. What?
A quiet man who stayed out of the limelight his entire career suddenly sued for sexual harassment allegations in his 70s?
Details are scarce. The lawsuit was quickly resolved or settled.
But it’s a jarring note in the Robert Ellis Silberstein story. A question mark. A moment that doesn’t fit the narrative of a kind, gentlemanly music executive.
The Teaching Career Nobody Mentions
After Robert Ellis Silberstein retired from music management, he went back to teaching.
Not at West Virginia University. But somewhere.
Sources mention he returned to his alma mater to “continue teaching.” But details are vague.
Is he still teaching? At what level? What subject?
Again, Robert Ellis Silberstein’s silence makes it impossible to know the details of his current life.
He’s 80 years old. Retired from music. Possibly teaching. Possibly not.
Living in Connecticut, California, or New York. Exact location unknown.
What Makes Robert Ellis Silberstein Different
In an industry built on ego, Robert Ellis Silberstein chose humility.
He married a superstar. But didn’t use her name to build his own brand.
He discovered superstars. But credited them, not himself.
He made $50 million. But lived modestly.
He raised another man’s child. But treated her as his own.
He divorced his wife. But remained best friends with her.
He got sued for harassment. But the details are sealed.
Robert Ellis Silberstein is a contradiction. A powerful man who stayed invisible. A wealthy man who lived simply. A successful man who didn’t brag.
The Legacy Questions
What will Robert Ellis Silberstein be remembered for?
Not Diana Ross. Because he never managed her.
Probably Chaka Khan. Because he discovered her. Changed her life. Made her a star.
And his daughters. Tracee Ellis Ross is a Golden Globe-winning actress. Chudney Ross is a producer and entrepreneur.
Both credit their father as a loving, supportive presence in their lives.
That might be the real legacy. Not the music industry success. Not the $50 million.
But the fact that he was a good father. A present father. A father who stayed involved even after divorce.
In an industry full of deadbeat dads, Robert Ellis Silberstein was the exception.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Robert Ellis Silberstein?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein is an American music executive and businessman known for managing artists like Chaka Khan, Billy Preston, and Ronnie Wood. He is also known as the ex-husband of Diana Ross, with whom he has two daughters.
Q: What is Robert Ellis Silberstein’s net worth?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein net worth is estimated at $50 million, accumulated through his career as a music manager, producer, and businessman.
Q: Was Robert Ellis Silberstein Diana Ross’s manager?
A: No. Despite being married to Diana Ross from 1971 to 1977, Robert Ellis Silberstein never officially managed her career. She remained under Motown Records management during their marriage.
Q: How did Robert Ellis Silberstein meet Diana Ross?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein met Diana Ross in a men’s clothing store in Los Angeles around 1970, where he was working. Diana asked him for help picking out a gift for her then-partner Berry Gordy.
Q: How long was Robert Ellis Silberstein married to Diana Ross?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein and Diana Ross were married for six years, from January 20, 1971, to March 9, 1977.
Q: Did Robert Ellis Silberstein raise Diana Ross’s other children?
A: Yes. Robert Ellis Silberstein raised Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Diana’s biological daughter with Berry Gordy, as his own from infancy. He legally adopted her and she grew up calling him dad.
Q: Who did Robert Ellis Silberstein discover?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein discovered and managed Chaka Khan while she was a vocalist with the funk band Rufus. He launched her solo career, which became hugely successful. He also managed Billy Preston, Ronnie Wood, Meat Loaf, and Status Quo.
Q: Does Robert Ellis Silberstein still work in music?
A: No. Robert Ellis Silberstein retired from the music industry and has since returned to teaching at his alma mater, West Virginia University, or other educational institutions.
Q: What are Robert Ellis Silberstein’s daughters’ names?
A: Robert Ellis Silberstein has two biological daughters with Diana Ross: Tracee Ellis Ross (born 1972), who is an acclaimed actress and producer, and Chudney Ross (born 1975), who is a producer and entrepreneur.
Q: Is Robert Ellis Silberstein still alive?
A: Yes, Robert Ellis Silberstein is still alive as of 2026. He is 80 years old and living a private life, primarily in Connecticut.
Q: What was the MoviePass lawsuit about?
A: In 2018, Robert Ellis Silberstein was named in a lawsuit filed against MoviePass, citing allegations of unlawful gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Details of the lawsuit were kept sealed or quickly settled.
Q: Is Robert Ellis Silberstein still in contact with Diana Ross?
A: Yes. Robert Ellis Silberstein and Diana Ross maintained a close friendship after their divorce. By the early 1980s, Robert described their relationship as being like that of brother and sister.