Since 1975, Leigh has been a pioneering sports agent, author and philanthropist. He has represented over 400 athletes including 64 1st round draft picks and first overall record breaking eight times. He has done $4 billion in contracts and $1.2 billion in charitable contributions. Leigh has 2 NYT bestselling books. The film “Jerry Maguire” was loosely based on him. He is a leader in fight for concussion awareness with Concussion Charitable Foundation and has trained 10,000 fledgling sports agent through Leigh Steinberg Agent Academy.

www.LeighSteinbergFoundation.org

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. March 21, 2010. Struggled with alcohol. Vodka controlled my life.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. The meetings encourage people to share their deepest experiences and be vulnerable in ways that are not happening in larger society. There are raw and honest shares that enable the alcoholic to seek help and support. There is a kinship and acceptance and bonding that make the group more powerful than the individual. It offers a step by step game plan for the best recovery. I treat it like a college class and carefully listen to every morsel of wisdom. And lastly these meetings offer encouragement and hope when we are at our lowest point.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. It is a disease and fits the classical metrics. It affects and organ—the brain. It is chronic and progressive. When people assert it is a choice it allows them to employ condemnation and punishment rather than helpful support.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. My sponsor Dwight H.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. I could live in a ramshackle hovel as long as it had a view of the Pacific ocean. It gives me peace and serenity.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. Constantly employing perspective and proportionality in terms of my struggles. I am not a starving peasant in Darfur, or living in Nazi Germany in the 30’s. I have great health for my age. I live in a free country with a high standard of living. What excuse do I have to exaggerate problems or not maintain a steady program?

Q. How do you measure success?

A. In two ways—cherishing relationships, especially family. Have I been a supportive father, son, brother, uncle? Am I there for my friends in adversity—if it is not convenient to be a friend. And have I made a difference in the world in a positive way and helped people in need? Can I feel the pain of others and respond to it?

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. The fact that there are two dueling versions of reality today. One comes from the President and his tweets, the other from mainstream media. If our society cannot agree on what is factually true, there is constant inability to forge unity.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. I feel it is my responsibility to help people still struggling, so an organization that would help alcoholics in need. I also contribute to programs that fight racism, push back against climate change, treat victims of domestic violence, fight back against bullying. I established a charitable foundation that raises money for research into traumatic brain injury and concussions and treat underserved communities.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My father Warren raised me to believe I had a responsibility to be of service to others. He also treasured relationships. He headed the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission to insure tolerance and harmony between different ethnic groups. He was a rock of wisdom and stability. I miss him every day.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. I had a social studies teacher named Blanche Bettington at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles who was a fiery advocate for fighting for the underdog and developing skills for that fight. She was the most inspirational teacher ever.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I grew up in West Los Angeles. Had a house in Berkeley where I attended undergrad and law school. For the last forty years have enjoyed living in lovely Newport Beach.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Noah Duval Hariri, James Lee Dickey, Doris Godwin Kearns.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Aries.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. The energy in the universe that suffuses us and pushes us towards greater harmony.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. ”Sapiens” by Noah Duval Hariri, “Team of Rivals” by Doris Godwin Kearns.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. ”The Godfather Part One and Two”. Great insights into human motivation and psychology and a superb cast.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Francis Ford Coppola.

Q. What surprised you most about living sober?

A. How quickly my body and cognitive skills could recover if I stopped with alcohol.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Proportionality and perspective.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. ”Careless People” an expose of Facebook.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Facebook.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. ”Landmen” “White Lotus” “Fargo”

Q. What is your favorite play or musical?

A. ”Peter Pan”

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Jimi Hendrix.

Q. What is your favorite musician and or band?

A. Taylor Swift (my daughter says I have the musical taste of a teenage girl)

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Compassionate.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Outside of Newport Beach, London, with New York as a runner up.

Q. What is your favorite hotel?

A. Hilton Hawaiian.

Q. What sport(s) do you like to play or watch?

A. Football.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?

A. Mayur in Corona del Mar.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Indian.

Q. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?

A. When I am hungry—eat, when I am angry—calm down, when I am lonely—call a friend, when I am tired—rest. None of those feelings should be a trigger for alcohol.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. To cultivate their listening skills and draw out another human being to delve deeper into their greatest anxieties and fears and greatest hopes and dreams. Peel back the layers of the onion to get greater insights.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. My girlfriend is really funny and makes hilarious facial expressions. Watching “Animal House”, listening to John Oliver.

Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?

A. Obviously, seeing my children born. QB Warren Moon asked me to give his presenting speech as he became the first African-American QB to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. It was the fruition of twenty three years of a breakthrough career and our relationship. I spoke in Canton in front of 40,000 people.

Q. What is a style trend you wish would come back?

A. Reading books.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. Courage and empathy.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. That our species is in denial about advent of climate change. Worry that my children will inherit a world which is much more challenging.

Q. Where do you go when you want to be alone?

A. In my bedroom looking out at the ocean.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. The wasted years wallowing in alcohol.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. Setting up a firm that represents professional athletes in with my office in my parents.

Q. What is the hardest amends you’ve ever had to make?

A. To my children, they did not ask to have an alcoholic as a father.

Q. Where did you go wrong?

A. Not understanding that alcohol was addictive.

Q. Where did you go right?

A. Establishing a firm that used the power of athletes and celebrity to address societal problems. Raising kids with empathy.

Q. How important is human connection?

A. We are a species that grew out of bands of 20-50 people that relied on each other. Friendship and connectivity are vital for human health.