Theodore Nathan 'Ted' Lerner (1925–2023) was a prominent American real estate developer, lawyer, and philanthropist. Born on October 15, 1925, in Washington, D.C., to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland, he grew up during the Great Depression. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he earned a Bachelor of Science in real estate (1946) and a Bachelor of Laws (1947) from George Washington University. He practiced law briefly before founding Lerner Enterprises in 1952 with a modest $250 investment, building it into the largest private landowner in the Washington metropolitan area. His holdings included commercial, retail, residential, and hotel properties, as well as Chelsea Piers in New York City. Lerner amassed a family fortune, with a net worth reaching $6.4 billion in 2022, tying him as the richest resident of Maryland. In 2006, he led the Lerner family's $450 million acquisition of the Washington Nationals baseball team from Major League Baseball, serving as managing principal owner until handing day-to-day control to his son, Mark D. Lerner, in 2018. Known for his low-profile, long-term approach, he developed landmark projects such as Tysons Corner Center, one of the first major U.S. shopping malls, and the White Flint Mall. His extensive philanthropy, channeled through the Lerner Family Foundation, supported Jewish causes, education, and medical research, with donations exceeding hundreds of millions to institutions like the National Symphony Orchestra, Children's National Hospital, and George Washington University. He was married to Annette M. Lerner from 1951 until her death in 2020, and they had three children: Mark, Debra, and Nancy. Lerner resided primarily in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and passed away on February 12, 2023, at age 97, leaving a legacy as a self-made billionaire who shaped the Washington region's skyline and sports landscape. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Federal City Council and received honorary degrees from George Washington University and the University of Maryland.