Baseball: it's said to be America's favorite pastime. But putting aside the classic tunes and wholesome images, there are millions at stake. From Manny Ramirez to Albert Pujols, here's a ranking of the MLB's players based on their net worths.
45. Andy Pettitte - $65M
This Louisiana-native spent the bulk of his career with the New York Yankees, plus a few years pitching for the Houston Astros. But Pettitte is no doubt mostly remembered for his time in the Big Apple, where he won five World Series championships with the Yankees.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Andy has a net worth of around $75 million. As for what Andy's "money pitch" is? "I'd probably have to say my cutter," he shared. "It's usually my big pitch, but there are a lot of times I just can't go to my cutter."
44. Sammy Sosa - $70M
Taking spot number 45 is the legendary Sammy Sosa. Born in the Dominican Republic, he made his major league debut in 1989 with the Texas Rangers. But Sosa didn't stay there for long and went on to play on three other teams.
Sammy played with the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs, the Baltimore Orioles, and then went back to the Texas Rangers for his last pro year. Sosa is a seven-time All-Star and considered one of the best hitters in baseball history. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he sits on roughly $70 million.
43. Roy Halladay - $70M
Taking the 44th spot on our list of wealthy baseball players is the late Roy Halladay. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he was estimated to have a net worth of roughly $70 million before his untimely passing. Roy played with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies during his roughly fifteen years in the MLB.
Among his many accomplishments, Roy was an eight-time All-Star and an inductee in the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame. He also pitched a postseason no-hitter in 2010 and was an MLB wins leader twice. Unfortunately, Halladay passed away in 2017 in a plane crash.
42. Pedro Martínez - $70M
Taking the next spot on this list of rich baseball players is Pedro Martínez. Growing up, he and his family were relatively low-income. Pedro played baseball with oranges instead f the real deal since he was unable to afford real baseballs. Once he got his hands on actual equipment, there was no stopping him.
Martínez joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992. From there, he went on to Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and the Philadelphia Phillies. Today, the 50-year-old has a net worth of around $70 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He went from oranges as baseballs to millions in the bank!
41. Mike Piazza - $70M
Before retiring from the pros, Mike Piazza played for five MLB teams, including the Dodgers and the Mets. Today, he manages the Italian National Baseball Team and owns a majority stake in an Italian soccer club. His athletic career and the business ventures that followed have led to a net worth of $70 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.
Not surprisingly, Mike sees plenty of similarities between baseball and business. "I think the importance of teamwork, the importance of different parts and different people, getting together to have a common goal, common agenda," Piazza detailed. "To really have a successful team, you have to have everyone knowing their role."
40. Mike Mussina - $70M
Mike Mussina played with the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees during his long career in the MLB. Today, his picture hangs proudly in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Celebrity Net Worth estimates Mussina sits on about $70 million. But for Mike, baseball means way more than a hefty bank account.
"My baseball journey began in the backyards of our neighborhood, back in my hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania," Mike recalled. "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."
39. Johan Santana - $70M
Johan Santana began his professional career with the Minnesota Twins, where he played from 2000 to 2007. The athlete ultimately moved to the New York Mets, where he played until 2012. Santana became a baseball legend when he became the first - and for now, only - no-hitter in Mets history.
Unfortunately, repeated injuries cut his major league career short. "It hasn't worked out the way I would love to," Johan said after one of his injuries. "But if, you know - if this is the end of it, I'd be more than happy to hang my glove." Today, Celebrity Net Worth lists Santana's as $70 million.
38. Greg Maddux - $70M
Greg Maddux was in the MLB for over twenty years and became famous for his excellent pitching skills. "That's all he was about: command of his fastball, changing speeds, and hitting his target better than anyone in baseball history," detailed former coach Leo Mazzone.
Mazzone added, "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." All that "greatness" led to a sizeable net worth of $70 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
37. Bryce Harper - $70
Next on our list of wealthy baseball players is Bryce Harper, whose value is listed at about $70 million by Celebrity Net Worth. And this guy's been aiming high since an early age. "When I was ten years old, I told my dad like, 'Dad, I want to be the No. 1 pick,'" Harper shared.
"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 continued. "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.'"
36. Bobby Abreu - $70M
Bobby Abreu played with the pros for nearly two decades before retiring. And all of that blood, sweat, and tears paid off: he now has a net worth of around $70 million, as calculated by Celebrity Net Worth. "Bobby was way ahead of his time [with] regards to working pitchers," said Larry Bowa, his former manager.
He continued, "In an era when guys were swinging for the fences, Bobby never strayed from his game. 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."
35. Vernon Wells - $75M
Vernon Wells is a man of many talents: before going professional in the world of baseball, he grew up playing quarterback of his high school's football team. In fact, when he signed a letter of intent for the University of Texas Austin, Vernon was set to play baseball and football.
Wells ultimately joined the MLB and played with three different teams: the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the New York Yankees. Today, Celebrity Net Worth estimates the retired athlete sits on a whopping $75 million. Not too shabby!
34. Matt Kemp - $75M
Matt Kemp spent fourteen years with the MLB, dividing his time between the Dodgers, the Padres, the Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Rockies. According to Celebrity Net Worth, all of that time on the field led to a net worth of about $75 million. Yet when asked for a highlight of his career once, Matt couldn't answer.
For him, every day was a dream come true. "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."
33. Mark Teixeira - $75M
In his fourteen seasons in MLB, Teixeira played with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim, and the New York Yankees. And this man's career off the field has proven to be just as interesting. Aside from a few film credits, Mark also boasts ESPN baseball analyst on his resume.
"I had a dad who was in the corporate world and understood the value of saving and investing," Teixeira shared of his financial education. "I just understood that my career wasn't going to last forever, and any money that I made, I needed to make it last." And last it did: Celebrity Net Worth puts him at roughly $75 million.
32. José Reyes - $75M
Next up with a net worth of about $75 million, as estimated by Celebrity Net Worth, is José Reyes. Born in the Dominican Republic, the now 38-year-old was scouted by the New York Mets in 1999. He went on to play with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Colorado Rockies before returning for his final seasons with the Mets.
And this MLB icon has plenty of achievements under his cap: Reyes is a four-time All-Star, a recipient of the Silver Slugger Award, a batting champion, and a three-time stolen base leader. His piece of advice? Give each game your all. "The most important thing I tell them is when you step onto the field, you have to play hard," José said.
31. Jayson Werth - $75M
Jayson spent roughly fifteen years in Major League Baseball. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals. Among his many accomplishments are a World Series championship in 2008 and receiving a Washington Nationals Ring of Honor.
Since retiring in 2017, Werth has accumulated a net worth of about $75 million, as listed by Celebrity Net Worth. One of Jayson's keys to going into the game with a clear head? Every game is a clean slate. "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.
30. David Wright - $75M
Up next is the one-and-only David Wright, who has a net worth of about $75 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This superstar spent his entire MLB career with 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," David shared.
He continued, "The brilliant thing about baseball is you're never really out of it - 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 bast from one night to the next."
29. Cal Ripken Jr. - $75M
Cal Ripken Jr. became an MLB icon during his two decades playing for the Baltimore Orioles. The former athlete retired in 2001 but has maintained a net worth of $75 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
Ripken became a philanthropist and author post-retirement and used what he learned on the field in business. "The realities of the lessons in sports really do apply to business," Cal 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."
28. Tom Glavine - $80M
Up next is Tom Glavin who, according to Celebrity Net Worth, sits on roughly $80 million. This 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee spent the bulk of his career with the Atlanta Braves (1987-2002 and 2008), and some time with the New York Mets in between those two sints.
And for this retired pro, baseball is a family thing. Not only does Glavine coach his children's baseball and hockey teams in Johns Creek, Georgia, one of his sons, Peton, was chosen in the 2017 MLB draft. That sounds like some seriously athletic genes.
27. Prince Fielder - $80M
Some become sports royalty, others are at least partially born into it. Prince Fielder is the son of former Detroit Tigers' Cecil Fielder, and reportedly hit his first home run over the fence when he was a mere 12 years old at Tiger Stadium. During his time in the MLB, Fielder played on three different teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers, Detriot Tigers, and Texas Rangers were Prince's homes until retirement. "He's never off-balance," said former Brewers teammate Craig Counsell. "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."
26. Jim Thome - $80M
From 1991 to 2012, this icon played on a multitude of teams and spent over a decade with the Cleveland Indians. Jim became a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, about five years after his retirement. Today, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Thome's value at around $80 million.
This guy's key to success? Well, Jim admitted that it practically takes a village. "You don't do it alone," he explained. "There are so many teammates, coaches, instructors, everyone who has played a big part of this. You don't do it alone and I'm so honored."
25. CC Sabathia - $80M
Up next is CC Sabathia, who played in the MLB for nineteen seasons before retiring. The athlete was a member of the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and the New York Yankees. And while Celebrity Net Worth currently lists his value at about $80 million, that's far from where Sabathia started.
Back in the day, Sabathia would've had no idea what to do with this kind of money. "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. We didn't know what to do," he recalled. Clearly, CC ended up doing something right.
24. Carlos Beltran - $80M
From 1998 to 2017, Carlos played on seven different teams, most notably the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Beltan now sits on a whopping $80 million. And giving back has always been fundamental to him.
The athlete even started his own foundation in 2002, while still playing in the MLB. "I came from a super humble background," Carlos shared. "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."
23. David Price - $85M
Before joining the LA Dogers, David Price played with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Tampa Bay Rays. Celebrity Net Worth puts his net worth at about $85 million. But this guy knows how to stay humble: David reportedly still mostly dresses in sweatpants and sneakers as he did back in college.
"If I didn't sign another contract in baseball ever, I would have been okay. That wouldn't change my lifestyle one bit," Price claimed in 2017. "I was already going to die with more than I could ever spend. Money has never driven me, not in my entire life."
22. Ken Griffey Jr. - $85M
It's hardly surprising that Ken Griffey Jr., AKA "the Kid," has a net worth of about $85 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The athlete joined the major league at just 19 years old, but according to him, he could've done it earlier. "I knew at age 14, defensively I could play in the big leagues," Griffey Jr. said.
"Going out there and taking fly balls in Fort Lauderdale when my dad played for the Yankees, I could run down the fly ball," Ken recalled. "It was just learning and maturing as a 17-year-old, 18-year-old... 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."
21. Mariano Rivera - $90M
Mariano River played nineteen seasons with the Yankees before retiring in 2013. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his fortune is valued at about $90 million. Before becoming a millionaire and playing on some of the most famous teams worldwide, Rivera grew up in a low-income family.
"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," he fondled recalled. "That was our baseball. And our gloves were cardboard."
20. Manny Ramirez - $90M
Up next is Manny Ramirez, who played with the MLB's Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, LA Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays before retiring from the pros. Nowadays, Celebrity Net Worth calculates Manny is sitting on around $90 million. No big deal.
And with a whopping net worth, he's living the good life. "As long as I'm alive, I'm happy," Ramirez 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."
19. Gary Sheffield - $90M
Up next is Gary Sheffield. Celebrity Net Worth estimates this retired athlete's net worth to be around $90 million. And while Sheffield had endless victories throughout his career, there's one that stands out the most. "Winning the World Series was definitely my proudest," he said.
Gary continued, "Everyone dreams of that. 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."
18. Felix Hernandez - $90M
Our list of wealthiest baseball players of all time continues with the one and only King Felix, also known as Felix Hernandez. This legend spent his entire MLB career with the Seattle Mariners. Today, Celebrity Net Worth puts his net worth at roughly $90 million.
Felix's key to success and riches? Maybe it's his competitiveness. "He wants to win everything. Playing cards, PlayStation, whatever we do, he has to win," divulged former teammate Rene Cortez. "That's what I like about Felix. Whatever he has to do to win, he'll do it."
17. Randy Johnson - $95M
Nicknamed "The Big Unit," Randy Johnson spent just over two decades playing professional baseball. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his time in the MLB led to a whopping $95 million net worth. And while baseball will certainly always have a place in his heart, Randy is enjoying his retirement.
"As you know, I was extremely intense when I played. I just felt like I was wired that way," Johnson explained. "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."
16. Adrian Beltre - $95M
This Texas Ranger star has a net worth of about $95 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. But no matter how many millions he has in the bank, Adrian Beltre won't forget where he came from or the people who paved the way. "In my time, a lot of people in the Dominican Republic saw baseball as a way out of poverty," he said.
The baseball icon continued, "For me, David Ortiz, for [Albert] Pujols, it was already a little easier because Sammy Sosa and Raul Mondesi had already gone. They opened the path for us, and the world already knew that the Dominican Republic had good players."
15. Stephen Strasburg - $100M
Stephen Strasburg was the first overall pick for the Washington Nationals in 2009 and has pretty much been killing it ever since. The pitchers' MLB debut in 2010 resulted in a franchise record of fourteen strikeouts. This player knows exactly what he's doing, as indicated by his $100 million net worth, listed by Celebrity Net Worth.
"I'll throw a four-seamer [the fastest fastball] that has a little bit of run," he detailed. "I'll throw a sinker that has a little bit more run. 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."
14. Joe Mauer - $100M
Bringing us into the three digits is Joe Mauer, who Celebrity Net Worth reports sits on roughly $100 million. Not too shabby! But despite making headlines before his retirement due to a $23 million yearly salary with the Minnesota Twins, Mauer said he doesn't let the money get to his head.
"I'm not a person that really thinks about that," Joe explained. "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."
13. Barry Bonds - $100M
Barry Bonds played for the Pittsburgh Pirates before becoming a total legend for the San Francisco Giants. Today, he boasts a net worth of about $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Yet despite being a record-breaking player, Bonds has yet to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"I feel like a ghost," Bondas told The Athletic of not being inducted into the Hall of Fame since first becoming eligible in 2013. "A ghost in a big empty house, just rattling around." The former athlete added that he felt like the MLB had given him "a death sentence. That's what they've given me."
12. Adrian Gonzalez - $100M
According to Celebrity Net Worth, this former Los Angeles Dodgers star has a net worth of about $100 million. Adrian spent a few months with the Mets after leaving the Dodgers, and spent time with the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers before that.
Like some other former players on this ranking, baseball was always a family matter for this guy. "I come from a baseball family," Gonzalez explained. "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."
11. Robinson Cano - $110M
Up next is the one and only Robinson Cano, who also has a whopping net worth of $110 million, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth. The Dominican Republic-born athlete plays the second baseman for the New York Mets, where he was drafted back in 2019. Cano previously played for two other MLB teams.
Robinson was with the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2013 and the Seattle Mariners from 2014 to 2018, before making his way back to the city that never sleeps. However, Cano is currently suspended from the 2021 season due to violating MLB substance regulations.
10. Joey Votto - $110M
Up next is Joey Votto, with a net worth of around $110 million, as listed by Celebrity Net Worth. This talented athlete has spent his entire MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds. And while Votto turned 38 in September of 2021, he doesn't plan on slowing down for now.
In fact, "Votto still bangs" was trending during the 2021 season - and Joey isn't ashamed to agree. "It's good to know I still have it," Votto told reporters. "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."
9. Chipper Jones - $120M
Chipper Jones spent over a decade with the Atlanta Braves before becoming their current coach. All that playing and coaching got him a $120 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth. And while Chipper began his training by playing baseball for his dad, he credits a large part of his success to his mom.
"My mom was a professional equestrian and when she rode out in the arena, people watched her," he shared. "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
Currently with the Houston Astros, Zack Greinke has played with the Arizona Diamondbacks, LA Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers, to name a few. Today, Celebrity Net Worth values him at around $120 million. And for Zach, baseball is all about money, and he's not afraid to say it.
"It's obviously the number one thing," Greinke admitted 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
This Philadelphia Phillies icon boasts a net worth of $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Since retiring from baseball, Howard became a venture capitalist and spends more time in offices than on the field. But he sees plenty of commonalities between the two professions. "In venture capital, there are a lot of failures - not every business is going to succeed.
He continued, "But like in baseball, if you can go three for 10, you're hitting .300. 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
The next athlete on our list has a net worth of $125 million, as calculated by Celebrity Net Worth. And there's no doubt Cabrera has played to earn this moolah: he's an 11-time MLB All-Star, claimed an MLB Triple Crown, and broke quite a few records. But according to him, Miguel didn't expect to become a record-holder.
"To be honest, I gotta say no," Cabrera reflected of whether he had seen this in his future. "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
Taking things up a couple of notches is Justin Verlander, who Celebrity Net Worth values at roughly $150 million. Since leaving the Detroit Tigers in 2017 after more than a decade with them, he joined the Houston Astros. And lucky for us, Justin shared his secret to dealing with immense pressure.
"I mean, I think the best way to cope with pressure is routine. 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," Justin explained.
4. Albert Pujols - $170M
Before joining the Los Angeles Dogers, Albert Pujols played for the LA Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals. All that hard work has amounted to a roughly $170 million net worth, as estimated by Celebrity Net Worth. And while he now has one of the top spots on this ranking, Albert didn't always think he would succeed.
"I was the guy that wasn't even supposed to make the team," Pujols confessed to 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
Ichiro Suzuki went pro in Japan before joining the MLB's Seattle Mariners. He went on to play with the Yankees and the Miami Marlins before coming back to Seattle and then retiring. According to Celebrity Net Worth, this baseball legend has a net worth of about $180 million. But even with millions to his name, Ichiro has stayed 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," noted Shigesato Itoi, a celebrity in Japan and friend of the player. "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
Taking the next spot on our ranking and nearly bringing us to number 1 is the one-and-only Derek Jeter. This total baseball icon spent his time in the MLB with the New York Yankees: something he dreamt of since a child. "It all starts with setting goals - we all need them," Jeter shared of his key to success.
"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." All those goals paid off: Celebrity Net Worth estimates Jeter's value at about $200 million.
1. Alex Rodriguez - $350M
Long before Alex Rodrigues made headlines for his relationship with a certain Hollywood A-lister, the athlete shot to fame as a baseball superstar. He played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees before retiring. Today, Celebrity Net Worth lists his net worth at a breathtaking $350 million.
Rodriguez's secret to financial success is arguably a surprising one. "It was fear," Alex confessed. "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."