Mar 18, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, JPN; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) walks on the field before the game against the Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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How Much Money Does Shohei Ohtani Make From Sponsorship Deals?

It's the most in the league by some margin!

Shohei Ohtani’s contract structure means he won’t be baseball’s highest-paid player in 2025 – that title belongs to Juan Soto, who is set to earn nearly $128.9 million. However, Shohei Ohtani’s financial dominance extends far beyond his MLB salary, with his endorsement earnings putting him in a league of his own.

According to Bill Shaikin of Yahoo, it’s impossible to go anywhere in Tokyo without seeing Ohtani’s face.

“His picture is everywhere, in advertisements above street crossings and at the airport, on television and in magazines. He endorses shoes and skin care products, airlines and watches and so much more.”

Shohei Ohtani is to baseball what the Beetles were to music. The sport has and will continue to sore to new heights with him.

He’s a living legend. And we get to watch him in his prime.

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— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) March 19, 2025

Shohei Ohtani’s MLB Salary

Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers was signed before the 2024 season. That was before he went on to win both a World Series title and another MVP award.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Juan Soto gives a fitting response to a fan yelling ‘Overpaid, Overrated’

Unlike typical MLB contracts, Ohtani’s deal is heavily deferred, ensuring he will receive payments long after his playing career ends. The Dodgers are deferring around $68 million of his $70 million annual salary, meaning his financial security extends decades into the future. So what is Shohei Ohtani’s primary source of income? Endorsements.

How Much Will Shohei Ohtani Earn From Endorsements in 2025?

Shohei Ohtani is projected to earn a staggering $100 million from sponsorships alone in 2025. That figure surpasses the payroll of seven different MLB teams and cements his status as the sport’s most marketable player.

Shohei Ohtani’s Top Endorsement Deals

According to Sportico, Shohei Ohtani is partnered with over a dozen brands across the globe. In North America, he has deals with major companies like New Balance, Beats, Fanatics/Topps, and Epic Games, among others. Internationally, he capitalizes on his immense popularity in Japan, working with brands such as Ito En, Kowa, Kose Cosmetics, and Seiko watches.

While Juan Soto recently signed MLB’s richest contract at $765 million, his endorsement earnings pale in comparison. Soto is expected to make just $7 million from sponsorships this season. Even Bryce Harper, one of the sport’s most recognizable names, is second to Ohtani in endorsements at just $10 million.

ALSO READ: “I Was Nervous”: Shohei Ohtani Admits Nerves During Historic Tokyo Return

This disparity highlights an ongoing issue for Major League Baseball. The sport boasts plenty of star power, yet it struggles to market its players individually. Ohtani is the exception, not the rule, and his ability to transcend the sport only underscores how much work MLB still has to do in promoting its biggest names.

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Shohei Ohtani

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.