Is Ohtani The Highest Paid Baseball Player

You know that feeling when you’re at a potluck and someone shows up with a three-tiered cake, homemade pasta, and a perfectly grilled steak—all from the same person? That’s Shohei Ohtani in baseball terms. He pitches like a cyborg, hits like a demigod, and runs the bases like he’s being chased by bees.

So when the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a cash truck at him last December, the question on everyone’s lips wasn’t if he was rich—it was: is Ohtani the highest paid baseball player in history?

Spoiler alert: yes, by a laughable margin. But the real story is way weirder and more ironic than you’d think. Grab a coffee—or a whiskey—and let’s unpack this money circus.

The Number That Broke the Calculator

The contract was a 10-year, $700 million deal. That’s not a typo. Seven hundred million. With a “b.” For context, that’s more than the GDP of some small island nations.

Before Ohtani, the record was held by Mike Trout’s $426.5 million contract with the Angels. Ohtani’s deal obliterates that by over $273 million. That’s like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight.

But wait—here’s the ironic twist: he’s not actually getting paid $70 million a year. Nope. The contract is massively deferred. He’ll take home just $2 million annually for the next ten years, with the rest ($680 million) coming after 2033. Why? To help the Dodgers dodge luxury tax penalties.

The “Lowest Paid” Highest Earner

Let that sink in: Shohei Ohtani—the guy who draws crowds like a eclipse—will earn less in 2024 than a backup catcher. Seriously, some players on minor league deals make more than his $2 million this season.

It’s a glorious, ironic absurdity. He’s technically the highest-paid player in history by total contract value, but right now, he’s not even top 100 in annual salary. Meanwhile, pitchers like Max Scherzer (who is amazing, don’t get me wrong) earn over $43 million per year. So, is he the highest paid? On paper, yes. In your wallet? Nope.

MLB's highest paid players for 2025 season: Photos

But look, Ohtani isn’t exactly eating ramen noodles. He makes roughly $40-50 million a year in endorsements from brands like New Balance, Hugo Boss, and Porsche. He’s literally driving a luxury car while earning the league minimum in cash. Only Ohtani could pull this off.

The “Shohei Tax” Is Real

The Dodgers didn’t sign him just for stats—they signed him for economic gravity. He adds an estimated $100 million in annual revenue from ticket sales, merch, and TV ratings. That’s not counting the fact that Japanese broadcasters pay a fortune just to air his games.

So in a business sense, the $700 million is a bargain. The Dodgers knew he’d pay for himself with interest. You can almost hear the front office high-fiving: “We paid for a unicorn, and he’s also a printing press.”

Yet, let’s be real: nobody else in baseball will ever see this kind of money. The competitive balance tax (the “luxury tax”) is designed to stop teams from hoarding talent. But Ohtani is an exception—he’s a one-man roster, a freak of nature that the business side couldn’t ignore.

Is It Fair? Who Cares?

Some fans grumble that he’s overpaid because he’s “only” a DH for the first season (recovering from elbow surgery). But come on—he’s the first player since Babe Ruth to pitch and hit at an elite level. The Babe did it in the 1920s, when players smoked on the bench.

Shohei Ohtani Set to Become Highest-Paid MLB Player Ever in ’23, per

Ohtani’s contract is generational, not just financial. It’s a bet on his ability to shatter every binary of what a baseball player should be. And so far? He’s hitting like a MVP candidate again. The surgery didn’t slow him down; it just made him focus on crushing home runs.

So, is he the highest paid? Yes, by total dollars. No, by annual cash flow. But the real answer is: he’s paid in a currency that goes beyond money. It’s the currency of global stardom, of rewriting rulebooks, of forcing baseball to ask “What’s next?”

The Bottom Line (And Your Takeaway)

If you ask a statistician, Ohtani is the highest paid. If you ask his bank account, he’s waiting on a huge deferred payment. If you ask the Dodgers’ accountant, they’re laughing all the way to the World Series.

But if you ask any fan who’s watched him play? They’ll tell you: he’s worth every single cent, and maybe more. The highest paid label is just a number. What matters is that he’s the most captivating, improbable, and joyful player of our era—and that’s priceless.

So next time you see a headline screaming “Ohtani’s $700M Contract,” just wink. You now know the secret: he’s both the highest paid and the lowest paid at the same time. Only in baseball, folks. Only in baseball.

(P.S. — If you want to borrow $2 million for your own “deferred” coffee habit, I’m still checking the couch cushions.)