Shohei Ohtani's off-field earnings surpass $100 million, topping the global athlete commercial value rankings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani not only breaks records on the field but has also reached unprecedented heights in commercial value. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ohtani’s annual off-field income (including endorsements) has officially exceeded $100 million (approximately 15.8 billion yen / 720 million RMB), making him the highest-earning athlete in terms of commercial revenue worldwide.

The report highlights that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James earns about $80 million off the court, ranking second, while football icon Lionel Messi follows closely with around $70 million, placing third.

Compared to other top baseball stars—such as Juan Soto and New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge, whose commercial earnings are around $7 million—Ohtani’s commercial value is nearly 14 times higher. This signifies that Ohtani has surpassed the role of a mere "face of baseball" and has become a "global pop culture icon" on par with Michael Jordan.

As a result, Shohei Ohtani joins the "hundred million club," standing alongside legendary athletes like Stephen Curry, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Conor McGregor, becoming one of the few professional athletes in history to achieve over $100 million in annual endorsement income.

Ohtani’s influence has extended beyond sports to become a symbol of global pop culture—his image is widely featured on airplane fuselages, skincare advertisements, and various other platforms.