Shohei Ohtani: Everything you need to know about the Dodgers’ superstar

Shohei Ohtani is well known as the highest paid athlete in the world. In December 2023, the Japanese baseball player put pen to paper on a $700 million deal to play 10 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, resulting in one of the most lucrative contracts not only in MLB, but sport in general.

Thanks to his outstanding on-field ability, Ohtani has become the centre of attention in the sport. However, little is known about his personal life, as the baseball player tends to keep his private affairs to himself. Here’s what (little) we know about Ohtani away from the diamond...

Shohei Ohtani’s lifestyle

Shohei Ohtani is a married man. The baseball player shared the news in February this year, although he did not reveal the identity of his wife. The only thing that is known about her is that she is a woman of Japanese nationality. Since Ohtani is a rather private person, he has asked the media not to inquire into the identity of his partner.

“To all my friends and fans throughout , I have an announcement to make: Not only have I began a new chapter in my career with the Dodgers but I also have began a new life with someone from my Native country of Japan who is very special to me and I wanted everyone to know I am now married. I am excited for what is to come and thank you for your support” he wrote via social media.

Ohtani’s an animal lover

Despite the secrecy of his private life, Ohtani has proven to be a loyal animal lover. After several appearances with the baseball player, Shohei’s Dutch spaniel became a sensation among the player’s fans. For some time, the athlete refused to share the name of his pet, but the mystery was solved in December 2023, when Ohtani revealed that his little canine goes by the name Dekopin, which means to hit someone’s forehead in Japanese.

Following the agreement with the Dodgers, Ohtani has an average annual salary of $70 million per year. However, Ohtani will ‘only’ receive $2 million per season, as he has opted to defer the remaining $68 million to Dodgers management in order to build a competitive roster.

According to Forbes, Ohtani’s salary is not his main source of income; that title goes to sponsorships. In 2023 alone, Shohei generated $35 million in revenue from his deals with brands such as New Balance, ASICS, Japan Airlines, Hugo Boss, Topps, Porsche Japan and Fanatics.