Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani signed a record 10-year contract worth $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal has catapulted the Japanese player to the top of the list of the highest paid athletes in the world.
Ohtani’s contract is the largest ever to be signed in baseball, surpassing Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, according to CBS Sports. Ohtani will earn $70 million a year over the course of the decade-long contract.
Still, athletes in other sports outearn Ohtani on an annual basis, even though their overall contracts aren’t as large.
Here are the top 10 highest paid athletes in sports today — six of which are players in MLB.
Biggest sports contracts ever signed
- Shohei Ohtani, Baseball, $700 million for 10 years. The Los Angeles Dodgers will pay Ohtani $70 million a year.
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer, $536 million for 2.5 years. The Portuguese soccer player earns $214.5 million a year as captain of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr team.
- Patrick Mahomes, Football, $450 million for 10 years. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback makes $45 million a year.
- Karim Benzema, Soccer, $436 million for 2 years. The French striker earns $214.5 million a year as captain of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad team.
- Mike Trout, Baseball, $426 million for 12 years. The MLB center fielder earns $30.4 million a year playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
- Canelo Alvarez, Boxing, $365 million for 5 years. The Mexican boxer’s deal with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) earns him $73 million a year.
- Mookie Betts, Baseball, $365 million, 12 years. The American outfielder and second baseman earns $30.4 million a year playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Aaron Judge, Baseball, $360 million, 9 years. Judge earns $40 million a year as an outfielder for the New York Yankees.
- Manny Machado, Baseball, $350 milion, 11 years. Machado makes $31.8 million a year playing for the San Diego Padres.
- Fancisco Lindor, Baseball, $341 million, 10 years. The New York Mets shortstop earns $34.1 million a year.
Biggest MLB contract
- Shohei Ohtani, $700 million for 10 years.
Biggest NBA contract
- Jaylen Brown, $304 million for five years.
Biggest NFL contract
- Patrick Mahomes, $450 million for 10 years.
Biggest soccer contract
- Cristiano Ronaldo, $536 million for 2.5 years.
Who is the overall highest paid athlete in the world?
Ohtani’s lucrative contract with the LA Dodgers makes him the world’s highest paid athlete, according to CBS Sports.
