Shohei Ohtani is only earning a $2 million salary from his backloaded contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he’s more than making up the difference off the field.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the two-time American League MVP is collecting almost $100 million in endorsements “with the potential to exceed that figure.”
That nearly doubles the most recent projections.
When ranking the highest-paid athletes in the world in February, Sportico estimated he had $40 million in endorsements in 2023. Forbes followed up in May and raised the figure to $60 million.
This is why Ohtani was uniquely positioned to sign a record-setting $700 million contract but one in which he won’t start to fully cash for another decade.
As dominant as the 30-year-old is on a baseball diamond, his commercial prowess is just as strong if not stronger.
Compared to his peers, he’s light years ahead. In the Sportico list, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper had the second-most endorsement earnings among MLB players, and his $7 million in off-field earnings looks like a pittance compared to Ohtani’s.
And among all athletes in the Forbes list, only Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Lionel Messi surpassed Ohtani’s endorsement money.
The Japanese star’s $68 million in annual deferred payments don’t start until 2034. Weep not, however, for it appears he’ll be getting close to a nine-figure payday anyway.
