Shohei Ohtani is setting the pace by topping baseball’s rich list, according to figures published by Forbes on Tuesday, as MLB heads into a new season buoyed by global growth but facing rising labor tensions.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is projected to earn $127 million in 2026, driven by an unprecedented $125 million in off-field income, the highest endorsement total ever for an active athlete after Conor McGregor in 2021, Forbes said.
Ohtani’s off-field income alone is more than six times the combined total of the other nine players on the list, underscoring his unmatched global appeal.