4-Time MVP, Second All-Time: Shohei Ohtani's Rankings Compared on Earnings, Home Runs and the $700 Million Contract
Shohei Ohtani's ranking differs by metric. A table compares his No. 1 spot in Forbes' estimated MLB earnings, No. 2 in free-agent contracts, No. 3 in 2025 home runs, and No. 2 all-time with 4 MVPs.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Three-Line Summary
- Forbes estimated Ohtani's 2026 earnings at $127 million, ranking him first among MLB players.
- His Dodgers contract is $700 million over 10 years, but the cash salary he receives each year is $2 million before taxes.
- Ohtani has won the regular-season MVP 4 times, which puts him alone in second place all-time behind Barry Bonds (7).
$127 million. That is Forbes' estimate of Shohei Ohtani's (32) annual earnings for 2026. It is the highest among MLB players, more than 2.2 times No. 2 Cody Bellinger ($56.5 million). Yet the cash salary the LA Dodgers pay him each year is only $2 million.
"Where does Ohtani rank?" has more than one answer. The issue is what you rank by. Forbes' total earnings include off-field income such as endorsements, and a contract's nominal total and its cash payments are different figures. This article gathers four metrics as of September 14, 2026.
Ohtani Ranks No. 1 in Earnings, $70.5 Million Ahead of No. 2 Bellinger
Forbes' estimated MLB player earnings ranking, announced on March 24, 2026, had Ohtani at $127 million, good for No. 1. That figure is before taxes and fees. Forbes called it the highest ever for a baseball player, and Money Today and Star News reported the same figure. It is an estimate of one year's earnings, not net worth.
| Rank | Player | Team | Estimated earnings (USD) | Gap with Ohtani (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | LA Dodgers | 127 million | — |
| 2 | Cody Bellinger | New York Yankees | 56.5 million | 70.5 million |
| 3 | Kyle Tucker | LA Dodgers | 56 million | 71 million |
| 4 | Juan Soto | New York Mets | 51.9 million | 75.1 million |
| 5 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | 46.1 million | 80.9 million |
What matters in this table is the gap. The difference between No. 2 Bellinger and No. 5 Judge is $10.4 million, but between No. 1 and No. 2 it is $70.5 million. The combined estimated earnings of the four players ranked 2 through 5 come to $210.5 million, and Ohtani alone exceeds 60% of that.
Widen the field to all sports and the ranking drops to No. 5. In Forbes' world athlete earnings ranking (covering May 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026), Ohtani reportedly recorded $127.6 million. The amount differs from the MLB ranking because the period covered is different.
| Rank | Player | Estimated earnings (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | LeBron James | 137.8 million |
| 5 | Shohei Ohtani | 127.6 million |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | 124.7 million |
Why Ohtani's $2 Million Salary Differs From His $700 Million Contract
MLB.com reports that Ohtani's Dodgers contract runs 10 years, from 2024 to 2033, with a nominal total of $700 million. Of that, $680 million is deferred money to be paid in installments over 2034–2043, after the contract ends. According to Forbes' reporting, his annual cash salary is $2 million before taxes, and the remaining $68 million is deferred each year.
Over 10 years, the cash salary is $2 million × 10 years, or $20 million. That is only 2.9% of the nominal total. In Forbes' global ranking, on-field earnings were $2.6 million and off-field earnings were $125 million, about 98% of the total. On off-field earnings alone, he is No. 1 across all sports.
Ohtani is not No. 1 in the contract rankings either. In the all-time free-agent contract nominal total ranking MLB.com compiled on February 11, 2026 (excluding extensions), No. 1 is Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million deal, and Ohtani is No. 2. By annual average, the order flips. Ohtani's is $700 million ÷ 10 years, or $70 million a year, while Soto's is $765 million ÷ 15 years, or $51 million a year.
Ohtani's Home Run Ranking: No. 3 Overall in 2025, and His 1.014 OPS Led the NL
Once we turn to on-field performance, the rankings change. Official MLB records show that Ohtani's 55 home runs in the 2025 regular season ranked third overall, behind first-place Cal Raleigh (60) and second-place Kyle Schwarber (56). Among National League players, he was second. 55 home runs is Ohtani's career high.
| Rank | Player | Home runs | Difference from Ohtani |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cal Raleigh | 60 | +5 |
| 2 | Kyle Schwarber | 56 | +1 |
| 3 | Shohei Ohtani | 55 | — |
Beyond home runs, the metrics lean Ohtani's way. In 2025, Ohtani recorded a .282 batting average with 102 RBIs and 146 runs scored (first in MLB). His OPS, which adds on-base and slugging percentages, was 1.014, first in the National League. In 2024, he hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases, becoming the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Some of his records don't show up in the home run rankings. Returning as a pitcher in 2025, Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 14 starts and 47 innings. Of his 280 career MLB home runs through 2025, 171 came with the Angels and 109 came in two seasons with the Dodgers (54 + 55). In just two seasons, he has reached 64% of his Angels-era total.
Ohtani's 4 MVPs Are Alone in Second All-Time, 3 Behind Bonds' 7
| Rank | Player | Awards | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barry Bonds | 7 times | 1990·1992·1993·2001·2002·2003·2004 |
| 2 | Shohei Ohtani | 4 times | 2021·2023 (AL), 2024·2025 (NL) |
| 3-time group | Aaron Judge and others | 3 times | — |
The one metric where the ranking doesn't waver is MVP. AP reports that through 2025, Ohtani has won the regular-season MVP award 4 times, which puts him alone in second place all-time behind Barry Bonds (62), who won 7. His 2025 National League award was unanimous. Bonds collected his 7 over 22 seasons and is the all-time leader with 762 career home runs. Ohtani has taken 4 in the 5 seasons since 2021.
Ohtani was born on July 5, 1994, and is 32 years old as of September 14, 2026. A Japanese national, he is a right-handed-throwing, left-handed-hitting two-way player. He debuted with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013, made his MLB debut with the LA Angels in 2018, and won the American League Rookie of the Year award that year. After moving to the Dodgers in 2024, he helped the team win the World Series in 2024 and 2025.
Each figure has its own reference date and update cycle. The earnings ranking updates with Forbes' annual release, the contract ranking when a major deal is signed, and game stats daily during the season. The 2026 season home run and OPS rankings are not included because the cutoff time could not be pinned down. As the contract is structured, the salary ranking and the earnings ranking will sit on different lines through 2033. The number that creates that gap is $680 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where does Ohtani rank in earnings?
In Forbes' MLB player earnings estimates announced on March 24, 2026, he is No. 1 at $127 million. In the all-sports global athlete ranking (covering May 2025 to May 2026), he is No. 5 at $127.6 million. Both are estimates, not net worth.
Q. What is Ohtani's salary?
His contract with the Dodgers is $700 million over 10 years, but the cash salary he receives each year is $2 million before taxes. $68 million a year, $680 million in total, is deferred and will be paid in 2034–2043.
Q. How old is Ohtani?
Born on July 5, 1994, he is 32 years old as of September 14, 2026. He debuted with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013, passed through the LA Angels in 2018, and has played for the LA Dodgers since 2024.
Related Official Sites
- MLB Official Ohtani Player Stats — Check season-by-season batting and pitching stats and the latest career numbers
- MLB 2025 Regular-Season Home Run Stats — Full list of the 2025 home run rankings
- Los Angeles Dodgers Official Website — Team schedule, roster and official announcements
Lead image · Graphics=Whale SV · Portrait photo=Wikimedia Commons (Mogami Kariya), CC BY-SA 2.0 · Photo=Wikimedia Commons (Jim Accordino at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmyack205/), CC BY 2.0
Related Reading
· "I Marvel at Him Every Day": Ohtani's Records, 310 Career Home Runs, 4 MVPs and No. 1 in Earnings
· "It's Just a Number": Okamoto's 23 Home Runs Top Ohtani's 22 After 8 Years
Weight Editor · More Profiles and Articles