Shohei Ohtani will make 98% of his $102 million earnings off the field this season
Unlike his peers, the MLB star will earn the vast majority of his money through lucrative sponsorship deals.
Look, it’s been clear for quite some time that Shohei Ohtani is a serious outlier in the world of Major League Baseball. Whether it was becoming the first player to join the 50/50 club or posting some of the best single-day, single-month, and single-season stats in history, his GOAT status is becoming more difficult to argue against with each year that passes.
As one of the highest-earning stars in the MLB, even the way he makes his money sets him apart in rarefied air, per Forbes’ latest annual list of the sport’s top-paid stars.
Out of the park
Due to the unusual way his $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers is structured — Ohtani receives $20 million across the 10 seasons, then $68 million each year for the decade after that — the two-way player will make just $2 million in on-field earnings this year. Meanwhile, Forbes estimates that he’ll score $100 million from over 20 sponsors like New Balance, Beats by Dre, Seiko watches, and a host of other mostly American and Japanese brands.
For context, Juan Soto, the only player who will outearn Ohtani this season, will get 96% of his cash from his staggering $46.9 million annual salary and $75 million signing bonus this season, after inking a record-breaking (and non-deferring) $765 million, 15-year deal with the Mets in December.
