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The media and his sponsors describe Shohei Ohtani as a once-in-a-lifetime player. That talent helped the pitcher and designated hitter sign the largest contract in the history of sports; prior to that, the Japanese man's net worth was in the middle range.
According to outlets like SportsKeeda and ClutchPoints, before signing a massive deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani's net worth was $50 million.
The figure came from a one-year, $30 million contract he signed in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels and endorsements worth around $35 million, making him the highest-earning baseball player off the field.
However, on December 9, 2023, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, which eclipsed the previous best contract in Major Leagues: the $426.5 million over 12 years that the Angels gave to Mike Trout in 2019.
Ohtani's deal even far exceeded the $450 million that Patrick Mahomes will earn with the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL over the next 10 years.
Explaining Shohei Ohtani contract
Ohtani's record-setting contract is very complicated He will not be paid a straight $70 million per year for 10 years. Indeed, the deal is notable not only for its total dollar figure but also for the way it's paid out, as Ohtani agreed to defer $680 million of his $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
He'll make $2 million per year until 2034 and then $68 million annually, without interest to be paid, for the next 10 years. However, don't forget about his endorsements beyond the Dodgers deal.
It is rumored that his income reaches up to 100 million annually after his contract with the Dodgers. He has agreements with New Balance, Fanatics, Topps, plus scores of companies in Japan.
Ohtani's health will be another factor
In the midst of sporting and economic success, there is only one factor of concern for Shohei: his health.
The player is injury-prone to the point that it is estimated that he was only able to play in 72% of Angels games in the six years he was with the team.
When he is on the field, it is a phenomenon that he became the first player to make 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases in one season. He also got injured during game 2 of the World Series against the Yankees.
At 30 years old, Ohtani is at the peak of his career, as the numbers indicate. The professional life of baseball players is one of the longest in professional sports, so it is quite likely that the player will remain on the diamonds long enough to reach the end of his contract with the Dodgers.
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