Major League Baseball stars earn staggering sums during their careers, and their financial moves off the field are just as impressive. These athletes often channel their earnings into substantial investments, from luxury real estate to billion-dollar business ventures, showcasing a strategic approach to wealth management and life after the game. Here’s a closer look at five prominent MLB players and their most significant known investments.
From the Diamond to Dominant Business Deals
Former New York Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez, known as A-Rod, has transitioned seamlessly from baseball icon to business mogul. One of his most ambitious ventures came in 2025, when he partnered in a monumental $1 billion luxury tourism project in the Dominican Republic. This development, featuring numerous villas and condominiums, stands as one of the largest investments ever made by a former MLB player. It highlights how Rodriguez is leveraging his baseball fortune to build a massive business empire outside of sports.
Current Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Mookie Betts has made his mark in the high-stakes Los Angeles real estate market. Capitalising on his lucrative contract, Betts invested approximately $7.6 million in 2020 to acquire a lavish home in Encino, Los Angeles. He later expanded his property portfolio with another significant purchase in the same upscale neighbourhood. These acquisitions rank among the most expensive real estate transactions by an active MLB star.
Record Contracts and Lucrative Property Flips
The phenomenal Shohei Ohtani rewrote sports financial history in 2023 by signing a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest deal in sports history. While this is not a direct property purchase, this unprecedented financial commitment provides Ohtani with immense future capital to invest in major ventures throughout his life and post-career.
Veteran infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera executed one of the most successful real estate flips in recent MLB memory. He initially purchased land for around $1 million and constructed a sprawling mansion exceeding 9,000 square feet in Florida. In 2021, he sold this luxurious property for $7.41 million, setting a record price for the area at the time and demonstrating a keen eye for profitable investment.
Building a Lifestyle and Investment Portfolio
Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, with career earnings surpassing $400 million, is renowned for his astute financial decisions. Alongside his wife, model Kate Upton, Verlander has invested in a premium lifestyle through real estate. Their holdings have included a luxury home in Jupiter, Florida, and a multi-million dollar estate in Beverly Hills. These properties, combined with his substantial earnings and endorsement deals, illustrate how Verlander strategically diversifies his baseball income into tangible lifestyle and real estate assets.
The financial plays of these athletes reveal a clear pattern: MLB stars are proactively using their on-field success to secure their futures. Whether through billion-dollar development projects, record-breaking contracts, or savvy real estate transactions, they are building legacies that extend far beyond the baseball diamond.
