In brief
- Alex Rodriguez is the richest baseball player in 2026, with an estimated $550 million net worth (Celebrity Net Worth).
- Derek Jeter and Justin Verlander follow, each estimated at about $200 million.
- Shohei Ohtani was MLB’s highest-paid player in 2026, earning $127 million according to Forbes.
- Team ownership, such as Rodriguez’s Timberwolves stake, now drives the biggest baseball fortunes.
As of October 2026, Alex Rodriguez is the richest baseball player in the world, with an estimated net worth of $550 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Derek Jeter and Justin Verlander follow at about $200 million each, while Shohei Ohtani is the highest-paid active player, earning a reported $127 million in 2026.
The ranking below uses published net worth estimates for current and retired Major League Baseball players. Net worth is different from salary. It reflects what a player has kept and grown through contracts, endorsements, team stakes and other investments, after taxes and spending.
Richest baseball players in 2026 at a glance
| Rank | Player | Estimated net worth | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Rodriguez | $550 million | New York Yankees |
| 2 | Derek Jeter | $200 million | New York Yankees |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | $200 million | Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros |
| 4 | Ichiro Suzuki | $180 million | Seattle Mariners |
| 5 | Albert Pujols | $170 million | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 6 | Shohei Ohtani | About $150 million | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 7 | Buster Posey | $150 million | San Francisco Giants |
| 8 | Max Scherzer | $150 million | Washington Nationals |
| 9 | Miguel Cabrera | $145 million | Detroit Tigers |
| 10 | Mike Trout | $140 million | Los Angeles Angels |
Figures for Rodriguez and Jeter come from Celebrity Net Worth (2026). The other figures are estimates published by AOL in December 2025. All of them are estimates, not audited numbers.
Also readMichael Dell Net Worth 2026: $241.6 Billion After October Slide1. Alex Rodriguez: $550 million
Rodriguez played 22 seasons for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. Celebrity Net Worth says he earned more than $450 million in MLB salary, one of the largest career totals in the sport’s history. His 10-year, $252 million deal with Texas in 2000 was a record at the time.
After baseball he built A-Rod Corp, an investment company with interests in real estate, consumer brands, media and sport. With Marc Lore, he agreed in 2021 to buy the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, and NBA owners approved the transfer of control in June 2025.
Celebrity Net Worth raised its estimate from $350 million to $550 million in August 2026. It reports that Rodriguez increased his stake in the teams when Lore agreed to sell most of his interest in a deal valuing the franchises at $4.5 billion.
2. Derek Jeter: $200 million
Jeter spent his entire 20-season career with the Yankees, won five World Series titles and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020. Celebrity Net Worth puts his on-field salary at about $265 million, with at least $150 million more from endorsements.
In 2017 he joined the group that bought the Miami Marlins for $1.2 billion and became the club’s chief executive. He left in February 2022 and reportedly sold his 4% stake back to his partners. He also co-founded The Players’ Tribune and now works as a television analyst.
3. Justin Verlander: $200 million
Verlander is one of the highest-paid pitchers of his generation. He signed large contracts with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros and New York Mets, and won the Cy Young Award three times and the World Series twice with Houston.
Endorsements add to his playing income. His estimated net worth of $200 million places him level with Jeter, built mostly while still an active pitcher.
4. Ichiro Suzuki: $180 million
Ichiro was already a star in Japan before joining the Seattle Mariners in 2001, when he won both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. He finished with more than 3,000 MLB hits.
His long list of endorsement deals in Japan is a large part of his wealth. In 2025 he became the first Japanese-born player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, falling one vote short of a unanimous selection.
5. Albert Pujols: $170 million
Pujols won three National League MVP awards and two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals before signing a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011. He returned to St. Louis for his final season in 2022 and finished with 703 home runs.
His income came mainly from playing contracts, supported by endorsements and business interests outside the game.
6. Shohei Ohtani: about $150 million
Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed in December 2023, is the largest in sports history, but most of it is deferred until after the deal ends. That is why his net worth estimate is lower than his headline numbers suggest.
His earning power is the highest in the game. Forbes ranked him the highest-paid MLB player of 2026 with $127 million in total earnings, most of it from endorsements and business deals rather than salary. Given that pace, his net worth is likely to rise quickly.
7. Buster Posey: $150 million
Posey won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants, along with the 2012 National League MVP award. He retired after the 2021 season at 34.
His estimated $150 million comes from his Giants contracts and endorsements. He returned to the club as president of baseball operations in late 2024.
8. Max Scherzer: $150 million
Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards and two World Series titles. His seven-year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals in 2015 was one of the biggest ever given to a pitcher at the time.
He later signed with the Mets on a deal paying more than $43 million a year, which made him one of the highest-paid players in the sport.
9. Miguel Cabrera: $145 million
Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012, two American League MVP awards and finished his career with more than 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He spent 16 of his 21 seasons with the Detroit Tigers.
His eight-year, $248 million extension with Detroit in 2014 was the backbone of his career earnings. He retired in 2023.
10. Mike Trout: $140 million
Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, the largest contract in sports at the time. He has won three American League MVP awards.
Forbes listed him eighth among the highest-paid MLB players of 2026 with $39 million. With years left on his deal, his net worth should keep climbing. For a comparison with other sports, see our list of the richest NFL players.
How we ranked these players
We used the most recent public net worth estimates available in October 2026, giving priority to sources updated in 2026. Where figures were level, we placed players with longer verified earnings records higher. Salary lists such as Forbes measure yearly income, so they were used only for context.
Sources: Celebrity Net Worth: Alex Rodriguez, Celebrity Net Worth: Derek Jeter, AOL: Richest baseball players, The Big Lead: Forbes highest-paid MLB players 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the richest baseball player in 2026?
Alex Rodriguez is the richest baseball player as of October 2026. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $550 million, built on more than $450 million in MLB salary, his company A-Rod Corp and his stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.
What is Derek Jeter’s net worth?
Derek Jeter’s net worth is estimated at $200 million by Celebrity Net Worth. He earned about $265 million in salary across 20 seasons with the Yankees, plus at least $150 million from endorsements, and later held a stake in the Miami Marlins.
Who is the highest-paid MLB player in 2026?
Shohei Ohtani is the highest-paid MLB player in 2026. Forbes estimated his total earnings at $127 million, with most of it coming from endorsements and business deals because the bulk of his $700 million Dodgers contract is deferred.
How much is Shohei Ohtani’s contract worth?
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. It is the largest contract in sports history, but most of the money is deferred and will be paid after the contract ends.
Is Mike Trout one of the richest baseball players?
Yes. Mike Trout’s net worth is estimated at about $140 million. He signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, and Forbes estimated his 2026 earnings at $39 million.
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