Shohei Ohtani has just put pen to paper on a monumental contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, catapulting him into the ranks of the highest-paid athletes in MLB history. The deal, spanning a decade and valued at a staggering $700 million, now stands as the richest in the annals of baseball, eclipsing Mike Trout’s $426 million agreement with the Los Angeles Angels.
Despite facing a hiatus from pitching in 2024 due to an elbow injury, Ohtani’s multifaceted prowess has made him an indispensable asset in baseball. In the previous season, he showcased his batting prowess with a .304 average and led the AL with 44 home runs and 44 runs batted in. Over the course of 701 career games, Ohtani has amassed an impressive 171 home runs and 437 RBIs.
Yet, Ohtani’s talents extend beyond hitting. In his 86 starts on the mound, he boasts an impressive record of 38 wins against 19 losses, coupled with an ERA of 3.01 and a remarkable tally of 608 strikeouts. His unique two-way skill set makes him a rare gem in baseball, and the Dodgers were willing to invest handsomely to secure his services.
With Ohtani’s signing, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 most lucrative contracts across all sports:
1. Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $700 million over 10 years, averaging $70 million per year.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) – $536 million for 2.5 years, averaging $214.5 million per year.
3. Patrick Mahomes (Football) – $450 million over 10 years, averaging $45 million per year.
4. Karim Benzema (Soccer) – $436 million for 2 years, averaging $214.5 million per year.
5. Mike Trout (Baseball) – $426 million over 12 years, averaging $30.4 million per year.
6. Canelo Alvarez (Boxing) – $365 million over 5 years, averaging $73 million per year.
7. Mookie Betts (Baseball) – $365 million over 12 years, averaging $30.4 million per year.
8. Aaron Judge (Baseball) – $360 million over 9 years, averaging $40 million per year.
9. Manny Machado (Baseball) – $350 million over 11 years, averaging $31.8 million per year.
10. Francisco Lindor (Baseball) – $341 million over 10 years, averaging $34.1 million per year.
What can aspiring athletes glean from this illustrious list? Firstly, aim to become one of the premier soccer talents globally and attract attention from leagues such as the Saudi league, as exemplified by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who earn in a year what some athletes outside the top 10 accumulate over the course of their entire contracts.
As an alternative path, master the art of hitting a baseball with power and consistency. Six out of the 10 athletes on this list hail from MLB, and their lucrative contracts are a testament to the value placed on reliable power hitters at the top of the lineup. MLB teams are willing to open their wallets wide to secure such talent.
Securing colossal contracts in American football presents a more formidable challenge, with Joe Burrow ranking down at No. 22. This discrepancy is primarily attributed to the NFL’s stringent salary cap regulations and shorter contract durations. Nevertheless, exceptions like Patrick Mahomes prove that remarkable talents can transcend these limitations.