Shohei Ohtani isn’t just a generational player — he’s also a two-way player. Ohtani can pitch on defense and hit on offense in the same game, and he has been compared to Babe Ruth, one of the game’s greatest players.
Ohtani is at the peak of his career in the major leagues at 30 years old, and since he entered Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2017, franchises have been willing to pay top dollar to draw him to their team.
Nicknamed “Shotime,” Ohtani has awed baseball fans with his feats as both a pitcher and a batter, a rarity in baseball.
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What is Shohei Ohtani’s net worth?
Shohei Ohtani has a net worth of at least $85 million, according to Forbes. His net worth is likely to increase significantly in the years to come, due to endorsements and his lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Shohei Ohtani, top, #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is baseball’s $700 million man.
Mike Lawrence/Getty Images
How did Shohei Ohtani get his start in baseball?
Ohtani was born in Iwate, Japan, in 1994, and both of his parents were amateur athletes. He started as a youth player in elementary school and made a name for himself as a high school player. At 18, Ohtani started playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in 2013, and over the next five years, he established himself as an elite two-way player — pitching and hitting.
In 2017, Ohtani made his move to the MLB and played with the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2023, taking on accolades as American League Rookie of the Year in 2018 and AL Most Valuable Player in 2021 and 2023.
In 2023, Ohtani signed a record-breaking $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in his first year, he helped the team win the 2024 World Series.
How does Shohei Ohtani make his money?
Ohtani’s net worth comes from the salary he takes as a player with the Dodgers. In 2023, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract — the biggest contract ever in Major League Baseball.
That comes out to an annual average of $70 million starting in 2024. However, because the contract is so big, Ohtani receives an annual cash payment of $2 million and will take deferred annual payments of $68 million starting in 2035. It isn’t clearly known whether Ohtani will receive provisions for interest payments on this deferred compensation. A calculation by North Carolina State University associate professors estimated that Ohtani may be foregoing between $49 million and $91 million by deferring payment.
While Ohtani will just get $2 million in cash from the Dodgers annually over the next 10 years, he can live off his endorsement deals, which have amounted to tens of millions of dollars over the years.
A World Series win will likely increase the amount of money baseball star Shohei Ohtani can make from endorsement deals.
YUICHI YAMAZAKI/Getty Images
Ohtani will reportedly earn $65 million in endorsements in 2024, on top of the $40 to $60 million he made in 2023.
With a World Series win, Ohtani’s endorsement income is likely to increase. He is one of the few Japanese players to record a World Series win, and he could win more championships with the Dodgers in the remaining nine years of his contract.
Ohtani is popular in the U.S., Japan, and globally, and that attracts companies that are eager to sponsor him or have him serve as their pitchman. In the 2024 World Series, viewership in Japan averaged 15 million, or about 12% of the population, in the first two games. Brands Ohtani endorses include sneaker maker New Balance and watchmaker Seiko.
Perks of Ohtani’s contract include a suite at Dodger Stadium for all regular season and post-season games. He is also provided with an interpreter.
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How does Shohei Ohtani spend his money?
Months after signing his 10-year contract with the Dodgers in late 2023, Ohtani reportedly purchased a home in the Los Angeles area for $7.85 million. He also purchased a 1.1-acre parcel of land in Hawaii for $1.4 million.
Since Dodger pitcher Joe Kelly used Ohtani’s number, 17, Kelly gave up the number, and in exchange, Ohtani sent a Porsche to Kelly’s wife as a gift.
Ohtani has also suffered some losses. His interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stole $16 million from Ohtani’s checking account to cover a part of Mizuhara’s gambling debts.
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