Japanese man set to outearn LeBron James' 20‑year income in a decade
Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese baseball star, is on track to become one of the highest-paid athletes in history with a $700-million 10-year contract. NBA players, including LeBron James, could only dream of such contracts, with James earning less in his 20-year NBA career.
12:44 PM EST, December 10, 2023
Ohtani is leaving behind the Los Angeles Angels to join a rival--the LA Dodgers, after accepting a record contract within the American MLB baseball league. The 29-year-old baseball wonder will earn $700 million over the next decade.
Record-breaking contract for Ohtani
To draw a comparison, the highest contract in the NBA, currently signed by Jaylen Brown from Boston Celtics, earns him $304 million over five years. In contrast, LeBron James of LA Lakers, who kicked off his career in 2003 and is expected to play until at least 2025, has signed club contracts totaling $535 million.
Shohei Ohtani has shown exceptional performance both as a pitcher and batter. Since his entry into Major League Baseball in 2018, he broke 17 different records for rookies within the first 10 days of the season. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2021 and 2023 seasons.
Ohtani surpasses ex-teammate's record contract
Before Ohtani, the previous holder of the biggest contract in history was Mike Trout with whom Ohtani used to share a team, the Angels. Trout signed his 12-year contract in 2019, worth a total of $426.5 million.
Ohtani's earnings could potentially have been even higher had it not been for an elbow injury in 2024, which led him to surgery. Though he won't be able to play as a pitcher in the upcoming season, Ohtani plans to return to the game in a dual role in 2025. His current team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have high hopes for Ohtani's return to form as a key pitcher--notes "Time".
The Dodgers are seven-time league champions that claimed their last title in 2020, offering Ohtani a chance for the team success he has long strived for.
