Playing professional baseball is more than just 'America’s favorite pastime' - it's also a billion-dollar industry, and these Major League Baseball players are raking it in! Here are the richest players in the MLB.
45. Sammy Sosa - $70M
This master player from the Dominican Republic comes in at our first spot, as the 45th wealthiest player in MLB. Back in 1989, Sammy Sosa played his first game with the Texas Rangers, before moving on.
Over the course of his career, he went on to play for the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and the Cubs, before ending his career with one last professional term with the Texas Rangers. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he is worth approximately $70 million, and was named an All-Star seven times!
44. Roy Halladay - $70M
Up next is the sorely missed champion Roy Halladay, who played in the MLB for almost fifteen years as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. At the time of his tragic passing, he was said to have a net worth of around $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
In 2017 Halladay left the world and the MLB after a terrible plane accident, but his legacy lived on. He was remembered for being named an All-Star eight times, twice being an MLB wins leader, pitching a 2010 postseason no-hitter, and being brought into the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame.
43. Pedro Martínez - $70M
Pedro Martinez grew up in a low-income family, and though he nursed an early passion for baseball, coming by proper equipment wasn't easy. In fact, he often played with oranges as his family couldn't afford to buy baseballs for him. He developed his skills in spite of this and excelled at the game.
And in 1992, the 21-year old Martinez was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout his career, he played for five other teams: the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Philadelphia Phillies. As of 2021, he has a net worth of $70 million, reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
42. Mike Piazza - $70M
Like Martinez, Mike Piazza is another player who jumped around the MLB, playing for five teams. The most prolific being the Dodgers and the Mets. Although he's now retired, Piazza is still very much involved with baseball, managing the Italian National Baseball Team. He has a net worth of $70 million (as per Celebrity Net Worth).
And according to Piazza, his business acumen is very much informed by baseball. "I think the importance of teamwork, the importance of different parts and different people, getting together to have a common goal, common agenda. To really have a successful team, you have to have everyone knowing their role."
41. Mike Mussina - $70M
For those who visit the Baseball Hall of Fame, they're bound to see this man's face on the wall. Mike Mussina was a well-respected player in his time, and he was best known for playing for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. Today, he boasts a $70 million net worth according to Celebrity Net Worth.
"My baseball journey began in the backyards of our neighborhood, back in my hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania," Mussina said of his life before fame. "The little league years were great. Just playing ball, no stress. It was all about pizza and snow cones and the packs of baseball cards with that stale piece of gum inside."
40. Johan Santana - $70M
For twelve years Johan Santana dominated the pitch, starting with the Minnesota Twins and moving onto the New York Mets, where he broke a record as the first no-hitter in the history of the team. He still holds that record today, despite leaving the team in 2012.
That was toward the end of his career when he had to retire due to injuries. "It hasn't worked out the way I would love to," Santana admitted. "But [...] if this is the end of it, I'd be more than happy to hang my glove." Hopefully, he takes some comfort in his impressive $70 mil net worth (as reported by Celebrity Net Worth).
39. Greg Maddux - $70M
"That's all he was about: command of his fastball, changing speeds, and hitting his target better than anyone in baseball history," is how renowned coach Leo Mazzone once described this next legend. Greg Maddux played pro for more than two decades and was hailed as one of the best pitchers in MLB history.
But that wasn't all - "He never gave in. Ever. He never thought to waste pitches on an 0-2 count. That's what separated mediocrity from greatness. His next pitch, no matter the count, was always intended to get the guy out." Perhaps that's why he left the league with an estimated $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
38. Bryce Harper - $70
"When I was ten years old, I told my dad like, 'Dad, I want to be the No. 1 pick,'" Bryce Harper once shared. From early on he knew he was destined for greatness on the pitch, and he was right! You can see it in both his reputation in the MLB and his net worth as a player, which Celebrity Net Worth reports to be around $70 million.
"Like it wasn't even like him telling [me], 'Harp, be the No. 1 pick... You need to do this; you need to do that,'" he explained further. "No, it was like, 'Dad, I'm going to be the No. 1 pick. Watch me.' For me as a person, in my head, in my mind, and in my heart, it was like 'I can't slip. I don't want to slip.'"
37. Bobby Abreu - $70M
Here we have another player who shone in the MLB for almost 20 years: Bobby Abreu. "Bobby was way ahead of his time [with] regards to working pitchers," his former manager Larry Bowa once said. And that innovation may be what garnered him an impressive $70 million net worth, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
"In an era when guys were swinging for the fences, Bobby never strayed from his game," Bowa expressed. Because of his speed, a walk would turn into a double. He was cool under pressure and always in control of his at-bats. He was the best combination of power, speed, and patients at the plate." Color us impressed!
36. Vernon Wells - $75M
Maintaining excellence in one sport is hard enough - imagine trying to juggle two. That was the case for the next player on our list, Vernon Wells. After spending a few years as a high school quarterback, he applied for the University of Texas in Austin, where he intended to play football and baseball jointly.
Of course, he eventually had to choose one, and it was baseball that took his fancy. He quickly joined the MLB and played for the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees during his career, amassing a healthy $75 million net worth during those years (according to Celebrity Net Worth).
35. Matt Kemp - $75M
Like some of his peers on this list, Matt Kemp moved through plenty of teams during his fourteen-year career, and garnered a $75 million net worth during that time, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Those teams included the Dodgers, the Padres, the Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Rockies.
And despite all his career achievements, Kemp can't choose one specific highlight. "There's so many, man. But just being here in itself is a highlight. Every day that I wake up and know that I get to come to the baseball field and be able to play in a baseball game is a highlight to me. So every day is a highlight for me."
34. Mark Teixeira - $75M
Another fourteen-year acolyte, Mark Teixeira spent his seasons with the MLB playing for the LA Angels, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and NY Yankees. But when he chose to retire after fourteen seasons, he still had plenty of passion for baseball and started a new career as a baseball analyst for ESPN.
And this all set him up with a $75 mil nest egg according to Celebrity Net Worth, which he kept through smart saving. "I had a dad who was in the corporate world and understood the value of saving and investing. I just understood that my career wasn't going to last forever, and any money that I made, I needed to make it last."
33. José Reyes - $75M
This next MLB hero was born in the Dominican Republic but moved to the US in 1999 to play for the New York Mets. Jose Reyes also played with the Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, and Colorado Rockies, garnering a cool $75 mil in the process, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
"The most important thing I tell them is when you step onto the field, you have to play hard," Reyes once said when asked about his advice for younger players. And play hard he did - earning a Silver Slugger Award and being named a four-time All-Star and three-time stolen base leader.
32. Jayson Werth - $75M
During his fifteen-year run with the MLB, Jayson Werth won the 2008 World Series championship and was also bestowed with the Washington Nationals Ring of Honor. Throughout his career, he represented the LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and Philadelphia Phillies.
He eventually left the pitch in 2017 and left some words of wisdom for future players. "Doesn't matter how much you lose or how much you lose by, it's zero-zero starting the game the next day," he said. He walked away with a $75 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
31. David Wright - $75M
As one of the wealthiest MLB players, David Wright has a net worth of $75 million, reported by Celebrity Net Worth. Wright spent most of his career with one team - the New York Mets. "I think success, especially in New York, is obviously defined by wins and losses, but also by a player's or a team's ability to rebound," he said.
He explained what he loved most about the game. "The brilliant thing about baseball is you're never really out of it, '' he said. "Things can turn around in this game so quickly. In the span of 12 to 15 hours, you can go from the loser to the hero, so it's all about staying grounded and rebounding from one night to the next."
30. Cal Ripken Jr. - $75M
After 20 years playing for the MLB, certified legend Carl Ripkin Jr. retired officially in 2001. He spent most of that time playing for the Baltimore Orioles, and left the team with an estimated $75 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Much of that money came from business, but Ripken Jr still carried that athletic spirit with him. "The realities of the lessons in sports really do apply to business," he said. "It's just a matter of gaining your confidence by having successes almost one day at a time and one game at a time. You're learning all the time."
29. Andy Pettitte - $75M
After leaving Louisiana as a youngster to play for the Houston Astros, Andy Pettitte really found his stride when he moved to the New York Yankees. The Yankees is where he built his reputation, leading the team to a whopping five World Series Championships.
When asked what made him as financially successful as he is, Pettitte said, "I'd probably have to say my cutter. It's usually my big pitch, but there are a lot of times I just can't go to my cutter." According to Celebrity Net Worth, he now has an estimated net worth of $75 million.
28. Tom Glavine - $80M
Another Hall of Famer, Tom Glavine spent most of his time with the MLB playing for the Atlanta Braves at the beginning and end of his career, and the New York Mets for a few years in between. He retired after 20 years on the pitch, and now sits on an $80 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
After retirement he didn’t forget about the game of course - these days he coaches youth baseball and hockey in his hometown of Johns Creek, Georgia. And he certainly seems to have rubbed off on his son, Peyton, who was recently named for the 2017 MLB draft! Looks like sports success runs in the family.
27. Stephen Strasburg - $80M
Back in 2009, young upstart Stephen Strasburg was chosen to play for the Washington Nationals. Since then he has absolutely dominated the field and even claimed the MLB record for fourteen strikeouts. Today, he's believed to sit on an $80 million fortune (as reported by Celebrity Net Worth).
"I'll throw a sinker that has a little bit more run," he said when asked about his tactics on the pitch. "I'll throw a changeup that has more run and drop. Then I'll have a breaking ball that, if I really get on it, it's more like a slider, and if I take a little bit off, it's more like a big breaking ball."
26. Robinson Cano - $80M
Another icon from the Dominican Republic (there must be something in the water over there!), Robinson Cano was first drafted by the New York Mets in 2019. And over the course of his career in the MLB, he has racked up a seriously impressive net worth - $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Before he was with the Mets, Cano started off with the NY Yankees (2005-2013), before moving to the Seattle Mariners (2014-2018). Although he was drafted for the Mets just a couple of years ago, he was unfortunately suspended from the MLB in 2021 due to violations of the League's substance regulations.
25. Prince Fielder - $80M
Prince Fielder isn't just royalty in name - he's baseball royalty too! Born to Cecil Fielder, a former MLB player for the Detroit Tigers, he followed closely in his father's footsteps. He was rumored to have hit his first home run at just 12 years old, and today has a net worth of roughly $80mil, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
During his career Fielder played for the Detroit Tigers (just like his pop!), the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Texas Rangers. Former teammate Craig Counsell once said, "He's never off-balance. To pitchers, that's a nightmare, because they have no idea how to set him up, how to get him leaning or looking for a certain pitch."
24. Jim Thome - $80M
Jim Thome has an estimated net worth of $80 million (according to Celebrity Net Worth), and spent his 21-year career playing for multiple teams in the MLB. However, he is best known for his decade-long run with the Cleveland Indians, and for his 2018 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get where he is today, but Thome admits that he couldn't have done it all by himself. "There are so many teammates, coaches, instructors, everyone who has played a big part of this," he said. "You don't do it alone and I'm so honored."
23. CC Sabathia - $80M
After nineteen seasons playing in the MLB with the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cleveland Indians, CC Sabathia had his final season in 2019. When he left, he had amassed an impressive net worth of about $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Sabathia was blown away by his own success, particularly in the financial sense. "Somebody dropped off $1.3 million with me at my front door when I was 17 years old, and I had no financial advisor or anything like that," he said. "We didn't know what to do."
22. Carlos Beltran - $80M
After almost two decades playing in the MLB, Carlos Beltran now possesses a fantastic net worth of $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. During his career, he played diligently for teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Kansas City Royals. But it's the community that matters most to him.
"I came from a super humble background," Beltran recalled. "My family, we struggled as a family, and understanding that G-d gave me an opportunity to play the game and to be successful, I felt that that was important - to give back to the community."
21. David Price - $85M
Today David Price has a net worth of around $85 million (according to Celebrity Net Worth), after a striking career playing for four different MLB teams: The Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. But he certainly hasn't let fame or money go to his head!
Price proved he was every bit as humble as when he started, during an interview in 2017. He said, "If I didn't sign another contract in baseball ever, I would have been okay. That wouldn't change my lifestyle one bit. I was already going to die with more than I could ever spend. Money has never driven me, not in my entire life."
20. Mariano Rivera - $90M
After nineteen years playing in the major leagues, Mariano River retired in 2013 with some significant savings and a lauded reputation as a player. He has an estimated net worth of around $90 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, but he hasn't forgotten where he came from.
In particular, his low-income upbringing. "I was happy because I didn't have nothing, but I had everything - meaning we didn't have money to buy a baseball, so the kids in the neighborhood and I, we cut pieces of net or old clothing, and we'd wrap it up with tape. That was our baseball. And our gloves were cardboard."
19. Manny Ramirez - $90M
Next up on our list is Manny Ramirez, who Celebrity Net Worth reports as having an estimated net worth of around $90 mil! Ramirez enjoyed an illustrious career playing on five different teams: the Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians.
And he certainly isn't taking his money and good fortunes for granted. "As long as I'm alive, I'm happy," he recently shared. "I'm sitting here in my house by the water, drinking a margarita, dark glasses on and I'm in a good place. I'm in pretty good shape, too, playing with my three kids all the time."
18. Ken Griffey Jr. - $90M
"I knew at age 14, defensively I could play in the big leagues," Ken Griffey Jr. once said. And that confidence sure did pay off - over the years he's enjoyed a significant career in the major leagues, and currently sits on an estimated net worth of $90 mil, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
"Going out there and taking fly balls in Fort Lauderdale when my dad played for the Yankees, I could run down the fly ball," he said. "It was just learning and maturing [...] At 17-18, it was just a work in progress, going from aluminum bat to wooden bat, so it took me, you know, 450 at-bats to get used to it."
17. Gary Sheffield - $90M
When Gary Sheffield looks back on his career in the MLB, it's easy to pinpoint the highlight of his career. "Winning the World Series was definitely my proudest," he admitted. But we're sure he's pretty chuffed about his $90 million worth of savings too! At least, that’s according to Celebrity Net Worth.
"Everyone dreams of that,” he continued. Ever since I played against Taiwan in the Little League World Series when I was 11 or 12 years old, I've wanted to win championships. From there on I tried to be first in the world. Everyone is always trying to capture a championship, and that was always my goal."
16. Felix Hernandez - $90M
Felix Hernandez, otherwise known as "King Felix," is up next as one of our most bougie baseball players. After a career spent fronting the Seattle Mariners, he now sits on a hefty bank balance of around $90 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
And his former Mariners teammate, Rene Cortez, thinks he knows the root of Hernandez's success. "He wants to win everything. Playing cards, PlayStation, whatever we do, he has to win," he detailed. "That's what I like about Felix. Whatever he has to do to win, he'll do it."
15. Randy Johnson - $95M
After 20 years playing for the MLB, Randy "The Big Unit" Johnson retired with an incredible post-career bounty. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the champion baseball player has an estimated $95 million net worth. But it isn't just the money he's enjoying - the freedom of retirement has helped too.
In fact, it has changed his life. "As you know, I was extremely intense when I played. I just felt like I was wired that way," Johnson said. "Since I retired, I'd like to think that I'm not wound as tight because the expectations of whatever those expectations are every fifth day aren't there anymore."
14. Adrian Beltre - $95M
For Texas Ranger Adrian Beltre, baseball was always much more than just a passion - it was an escape. "In my time, a lot of people in the Dominican Republic saw baseball as a way out of poverty," he once said. And with a $95 mil net worth (as reported by Celebrity Net Worth), it's easy to see why.
But that's not all - he had plenty of role models too. "For me, David Ortiz, for [Albert] Pujols, it was already a little easier because Sammy Sosa and Raul Mondesi had already gone." He said. "They opened the path for us, and the world already knew that the Dominican Republic had good players."
13. Joe Mauer - $100M
For most of us, earning a $23 million yearly salary would be unimaginable. For Joe Mauer, it was just another year playing for the Minnesota Twins. Today he has an established net worth of around $100 million (reported by Celebrity Net Worth) - the first on this list to break nine digits!
But Mauer denies that it's affected him much. "I'm not a person that really thinks about that," he said. "It's more about what I can do this year to win. Obviously, my name gets mentioned, and that contract gets mentioned all the time. But people that know what I'm about know that's not my concern or what I'm really all about."
12. Barry Bonds - $100M
Next up is the San Francisco Giants legend Barry Bonds, who switched to the team after initially playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though he hasn't yet been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he has broken multiple records and Celebrity Net Worth has listed his net worth as $100 million.
But despite these monumental successes, he is still haunted by the Hall of Fame snub. "I feel like a ghost," he said in an interview with The Athletic. "A ghost in a big empty house, just rattling around. It's a death sentence. That's what they've given me."
11. Adrian Gonzalez - $100M
After entering the big leagues in 2000, Adrian Gonzalez spent 20 years jumping from a variety of teams, including the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers. Today he sits on a $100 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
"I come from a baseball family," Gonzalez elaborated when he was asked how he first became interested in the sport. "My dad played baseball all his life; so did my two older brothers. I come from an area in the north [of Mexico], Tijuana, where baseball is the number one sport."
10. Joey Votto - $110M
A rarity amongst most major-league players, Joey Votto spent his entire career playing for one team: the Cincinnati Reds. And his dedication has served him well, as he now has a $110 million net worth, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. And at 38-years old, he's still going hard.
So much so that the phrase "Votto still bangs" was trending throughout 2021 amongst baseball fans. When asked about the fanfare, Votto said, "It's good to know I still have it. And that I can play. I can perform well and it can come out pretty easy and I can have fun, which is really a gift." We couldn’t agree more!
9. Chipper Jones - $110M
For some baseball players, retiring and leaving your team can be hard - but it's not the end of the world. Just look at Chipper Jones, who became the head coach of the Atlanta Braves after ten years as a player! Today his net worth is currently listed Celebrity Net Worth as being a whopping $110 million. And he owes it all to mom.
"My mom was a professional equestrian and when she rode out in the arena, people watched her," Jones said. "When she walked through events, people watched. It wasn't just about how good she was - and she was good. It was about the way she carried herself. She carried herself like a champion in everything she did and it was noticed."
8. Zack Greinke - $120M
Zack Greinke seems to have settled down with the Houston Astros, but after playing with the LA Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Arizona Diamondbacks, who knows? Either way, Greinke doesn’t have to worry - he currently has an estimated net worth of $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
And that number is a big deal, as Greinke himself will admit. "It's obviously the number one thing," he said back in 2013. "I could play for the worst team if they paid the most... If the last-place team offers $200 million and the first-place team offers $10, I'm going to go for the $200 million no matter what team it was."
7. Ryan Howard - $120M
Former Philadelphia Phillies legend Ryan Howard didn't stop working when he retired from the MLB. Instead, he jumped into venture capital. Perhaps that's why he has a net worth of $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. "In venture capital, there are a lot of failures - not every business is going to succeed," he shared.
"But like in baseball, if you can go three for 10, you're hitting .300," he continued the comparison. "In venture capital, if you can get three out of 10 to succeed, that's like a grand slam. In baseball, you've got your pitchers. In venture capital, you've got people pitching you. So there are a lot of similarities."
6. Miguel Cabrera - $125M
When someone is named an MLB All-Star 11 times, has snagged the Triple Crown, and broken multiple records, they're probably entitled to brag. And for Miguel Cabrera, his net worth helps too. He has an estimated $125 million, reported by Celebrity Net Worth. But he’s humble enough to admit he never thought he'd be a record-breaker.
"To be honest, I gotta say no," Cabrera admitted when he was questioned on his track record. "Because my goal was to play between 10-20 years. My family would tell me that if I wanted to have good numbers, I'd have to play longer. That was my goal. The numbers are second for me."
5. Justin Verlander - $150M
After ten years playing with the Detroit Tigers, Justin Verlander made the jump to the Houston Astros. But with a net worth of $150 million (as listed by Celebrity Net Worth), it probably makes it easier to take a risk. And though it's high-pressure being a player in the MLB, Justin has his strategies to deal with it.
"I mean, I think the best way to cope with pressure is routine," he opened up. "I don't know whether that's something I do different than anybody else. But my routine specifically on game day is so ingrained in my mind and my body that I think that really helps kind of put me at ease."
4. Albert Pujols - $170M
Albert Pujols has played for three major teams in his career: the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and LA Dodgers. And that trio must be a lucky one since Celebrity Net Worth now reports his net worth as approximately $170 million! But despite his continued success, Pujols can't help but be a little surprised.
"I was the guy that wasn't even supposed to make the team," he expressed in an interview with USA Today Sports. "I got invited to spring training just to be around the big-league guys. I never thought I was going to make the team. But I'm a guy that if you open a door, you're going to get the best out of me, and that's what I did."
3. Ichiro Suzuki - $180M
With $180 million in the bank (according to Celebrity Net Worth), it could go to your head pretty easily. But after playing pro baseball on two continents, and joining the Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Seattle Mariners, it seems Ichiro Suzuki is also a pro at… being humble?
"Despite the levels of success he's attained, he has retained the sensibilities of ordinary people far more, actually, than I would have imagined," said famous friend Shigesato Itoi. "When he's not performing in a baseball uniform, he's made it a priority to retain very down-to-earth sensibilities."
2. Derek Jeter - $200M
If you've never heard of Derek Jeter, we're kinda surprised that you're reading this article! This absolute icon spent most of his MLB career with the New York Yankees, amassing a net worth of over $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But what was the key to unlocking such immense success?
"It all starts with setting goals - we all need them. Whether your goal is to play for the Yankees or to win the pie-eating contest at summer camp, goals are what motivate us to do better," he continued. "My ultimate dream was to play major-league baseball, but I had smaller goals along the way."
1. Alex Rodriguez - $350M
And that brings us to our number one baller. Alex Rodriguez is just as famous for his prowess on the pitch as he is for his tabloid headlines, but is most admired for his career playing for the Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. His current net worth sits at a jaw-dropping $350 mil, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
And A-Rod has been very open about how he maintained such an impressive bank account. "It was fear," he said. "For me, it was simple, it was fear. I did not want to be another unfortunate negative statistic of athletes and entertainers that get into financial issues once they retire."