"Ohtani's 2026 endorsement tally is not only a record in sports, but it is also unmatched in the gap compared to the No. 2 in the sports. His projected off-field earnings are 14x what Judge and Bryce Harper should bank this year. The closest instance of a disparity between the top two athletes in a major sport over the past 30 years was Usain Bolt at his peak, making $30 million a year, 10x anyone else has in track."
"In terms of baseball, Ohtani is in a league of his own with regard to sponsorship earnings. The previous bests before him were around $10 million for Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki."
"Despite his low salary, Ohtani is still the highest paid baseball player in MLB, earning $127 million in total, more than double former Dodger Cody Bellinger, who got a massive contract from the New York Yankees."
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, deferring $680 million until 2034 to help the team build contenders. This results in only $2 million annual salary, but Ohtani compensates through massive endorsement deals. In 2025, he earned $100 million in sponsorships, matching Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, and Stephen Curry. For 2026, Sportico projects $125 million in endorsement earnings, surpassing his previous record by $25 million and establishing an unprecedented gap over other athletes. His total 2026 earnings reach $127 million, making him baseball's highest-paid player by far, with endorsement income 14 times greater than Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
Read at Dodgers Nation
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