As positioned among the most skilled baseball players, Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese star who currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball. Before getting drafted by MLB, Ohtani charmed everyone with his skills with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighter in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. It is his exceptional abilities that made him the highest-earning player in the MLB.
Shohei Ohtani began his professional baseball career in America in 2017 by playing for the Los Angeles Angels. The very first contract that he signed was valued at $545,000 on December 8th, 2017, and spanned through the year 2018. When he joined the team, he received a signing bonus from the team worth $2,315,000, in the very same year.
Shohei Ohtani is the highest-earning player in the MLB
His estimated $40 million in off-field earnings are nearly 6x what anyone else in baseball makes, with Bryce Harper ranked second at $7 million
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Continuing his journey, Ohtani secured a one-year contract in March 2019 worth $650,000. A year later in March, he renewed the one-year agreement valued at $700,000 and firmed his position with the Los Angeles Angels team. Later on, in 2021, Ohtani signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels valued at $8.5 million. As a result, he earned $3,00,000 in 2021 and $5,500,500 in 2022.
The MLB prodigy signed another amazing contract for one year worth $30 million with the Los Angeles Angels on October 1st, 2022. As of 2023, Ohtani receives a salary of $30,954,256 with a signing bonus of $150 million. With that, his net worth is estimated to be around $50 million, where endorsements play the most significant role in his career.
How much does Shohei Ohtani make from brand endorsement?
With just brand endorsements, Shohei Ohtani had nearly tripled his earnings. Before announcing his arrival in MLB, he made a good $6 million in an endorsement deal, in 2021. Following the season, he enhanced his earnings through endorsements above 200% to $20 million, along with $5 million on-field income.
At the beginning of this year 2023, Ohtani signed a footwear and apparel contract with New Balance. Speaking of his partnership, Ohtani said, “New Balance is a global brand that is known for having incredible product innovation but also for being an authentic brand who allows their athletes to be themselves.”
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Apart from that, he signed an exclusive multiyear memorabilia deal with Fanatics, in July 2021. He also endorses popular brands like Japan Airlines, ASICS, Descente, Seiko Watch, Nishikawa Co., Hugo Boss, Panini, Oakley, New Era, and Topps.
Moreover, he is the global ambassador of FTX, which he signed in November 2021. And in February 2022, MLB The Show 22, Nintendo Direct. He was made the ambassador of Porsche Japan in August 2022. And in 2023, Ohtani became the ambassador of New Balance, whose products he will use on the pitch.
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