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Shohei Ohtani breaks the bank with his $700 million contract. Where does he rank with other sports superstars?

By Jay Cohen
Associated Press
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Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani looks on from the dugout before a game against the Reds on Aug. 23, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif.

Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani looks on from the dugout before a game against the Reds on Aug. 23, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (Kevork Djansezian/Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America/TNS)

Shohei Ohtani, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrick Mahomes and Mike Trout. Five of the world’s top athletes, each with a long list of epic accomplishments with their respective teams.

Well paid too.

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Ohtani cashed in on his success Saturday, agreeing to a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is almost assuredly the biggest deal in the history of the four major North American sports.

Ohtani joins an exclusive list of sports stars with financial records to go along with their record-breaking numbers on the field. Here is a closer at a couple of the highest-paid players in sports.

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Shohei Ohtani

The Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits a single against the Braves on July 31, 2023, in Atlanta.

The Angels' Shohei Ohtani hits a single against the Braves on July 31, 2023, in Atlanta. (John Bazemore/AP)

Ohtani is essentially two elite baseball players in one body, and his new deal with the Dodgers is a reflection of his unique skillset and immense value.

The two-way star was a unanimous winner of the AL MVP award this year for the second time. He batted .304 with 44 homers, 95 RBIs and 20 steals for the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander also went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts on the mound.

His $70 million average salary nearly doubles the roughly $42.3 million he earned with the Angels. It also exceeds the entire payrolls of Baltimore and Oakland this year.

Lionel Messi

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during a match against Los Angeles FC on Sept. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during a match against Los Angeles FC on Sept. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Ryan Sun/AP)

Like Ohtani, Messi’s contract is indicative of his value to his team on and off the field.

Messi, 36, provided a big boost for Major League Soccer when he announced in June that he planned to join Inter Miami. He won the men’s Ballon d’Or — presented annually to soccer’s top player — for a record eighth time in October.

Messi’s Inter Miami deal is for 2 1/2 seasons, and it pays him between $50 million and $60 million annually — putting the total contract value between $125 million and $150 million in cash alone.

Cristiano Ronaldo

FILE - Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball during a friendly soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain in Osaka, western Japan, on July 25, 2023. Ronaldo walked off the field with the gleeful chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi!” ringing in his ears from delighted Al-Hilal fans who had just watched their Saudi Pro League team beat the Portugal superstar's Al-Nassr 3-0 in the Riyadh Derby on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

FILE - Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball during a friendly soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain in Osaka, western Japan, on July 25, 2023. Ronaldo walked off the field with the gleeful chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi!” ringing in his ears from delighted Al-Hilal fans who had just watched their Saudi Pro League team beat the Portugal superstar's Al-Nassr 3-0 in the Riyadh Derby on Friday. (Kyodo News via AP, File) (Uncredited/AP)

Ronaldo’s successful run at Manchester United came to an abrupt end following a TV interview in which he criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s owners.

He didn’t take very long before landing a lucrative new deal — albeit far away from the spotlight of top European soccer. Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr announced a year ago that it had signed Ronaldo to a contract that runs to June 2025. It’s reportedly worth up to $200 million per year.

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Patrick Mahomes

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the trophy after their win against the Eagles Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the trophy after their win against the Eagles Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Matt Slocum/AP)

Mahomes is one of the NFL’s biggest stars — and he is paid accordingly.

The 28-year-old quarterback just agreed to a restructured version of his $450 million, 10-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in September. Under the revised deal, the reigning league MVP makes $56.85 million this season, $44.5 million next season, $50 million in 2025 and $56.76 million for the 2026 season.

Mahomes threw for a franchise-record 5,250 yards last season, along with a league-leading 41 touchdown passes and only 12 interceptions.

Mike Trout

Angels center fielder Mike Trout rounds first on a double against the Rangers on Sept. 30, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif.

Angels center fielder Mike Trout rounds first on a double against the Rangers on Sept. 30, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (Alex Gallardo/AP)

Before Ohtani, Trout had the biggest contract in MLB history.

The slugging outfielder finalized a $426.5 million, 12-year deal with the Angels in March 2019. The three-time AL MVP has been hampered by injuries in recent years, appearing in just 424 of Los Angeles’ 708 regular-season games over the last five seasons.

Trout, 32, made his big league debut in 2011. He is a .301 hitter with 368 homers and 940 RBIs in 1,489 career games.

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