Ted Lerner cause of death: How did Washington Nationals' billionaire owner pass away?

Ted Lerner, billionaire owner of the Washington Nationals since 2006, passed away on Sunday. He was 97. Lerner died of complications from pneumonia, according to a Nationals spokesperson.

Lerner, a real estate mogul, bought the franchise for $450 billion after MLB bought the Montreal Expos, and the franchise was moved to Washington. He was the principal managing owner of the team till 2018, when he was succeeded in the role by his son, Mark.

The crowning glory under the Lerners' ownership was undoubtedly the 2019 World Series win, ending the city's 95-year wait for baseball's biggest prize. The Nationals posted a statement on Twitter following Lerner's demise:

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Founding Managing Principal Owner, Theodore N. Lerner."

The Nationals also shared another heartfelt tribute:

"Ted Lerner is the reason baseball came back to DC after 33 years.Thank you, Ted. Rest in peace."

The first few seasons of the Lerner era did not yield much success. However, the Nationals started improving with the acquisition of players like Max Scherzer and Bryce Harper, culminating in the World Series triumph in 2019.

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Ted Lerner biography

Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner

Born on October 15, 1925, Ted Lerner was the oldest of three children. His parents were immigrants, with his father hailing from Palestine while his mother moved to the U.S. from Lithuania.

He grew up in Washington, graduating from George Washington University with a degree in law after serving with the U.S. Army during World War II. During his graduation, he sold homes over the weekend, his first proper introduction into the world of real estate.

In 1950, he borrowed $250 from his wife to start his real estate company. In ten years, he opened his first shopping center in Maryland. Today, the company is one of the largest private developers in the country.

Lerner provided a sneak peek into his philosophy when he was presented with the lifetime achievement award by the Urban Land Institute Washington in 2015. He spoke about how he never dreamed of owning an MLB franchise, let alone become famous or "build over 20 million square feet of commercial and residential space".