Clayton Kershaw is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although he isn’t even 30 years old, Kershaw has one of the most lucrative professional sports contracts in history. He was able to secure his current contract due to his stellar performance on the mound. His current contract, seven years for $215 million, has skyrocketed Clayton Kershaw net worth to a new height. While the first few years of baseball contracts helped create a foundation for his net worth, his current contract has made Clayton Kershaw net worth an astonishing $50 million.
Born March 19, 1988 in Dallas, TX, Kershaw spent his younger days in Dallas and attended Highland Park High School. He excelled in his high school years and became one of the top prospects in the 2006 MLB draft. Although he originally committed to play college ball at Texas A&M University, he eventually signed with the Dodgers when they selected Clayton number seven overall in the draft. Kershaw spent two years in the minors for the organization before being called up for good during the 2008 season. He started 21 games in his rookie campaign posting a 5-5 record and an ERA of 4.26. He has continued to excel in his career ever since. Despite being unable to lead the Dodgers to a World Series appearance thus far, he has been the main reason the team has consistently reached the playoffs.
Upon being drafted in 2006, Kershaw received a $2.3 million signing bonus as part of his initial contract. This helped to give Clayton Kershaw’s net worth a jump start on many 18 year olds. In 2011, Kershaw had an incredible year for the team. He posted 21 wins for the organization and an ERA of just 2.28. The Dodgers rewarded him with a two year $19 million contract for his efforts. 2014 was when Clayton Kershaw would hit his big payday. After following up his 2011 campaign with two solid seasons, the Dodgers gave Clayton a massive seven year $215 million contract which paid him an average of over $30 million per season. He was now the highest paid pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
Currently in his 10th season in the majors, Kershaw has a career record of 142-63 with over 2,000 career strikeouts. His big payday is the result of his top performances year in and year out. Clayton is a seven time All-Star and a three time winner of the NL Cy Young Award which goes to the division’s best pitcher. Kershaw has almost certainly already solidified himself as a future inductee into the Hall of Fame.
After this season, Kershaw still has three years remaining on his current contract with the last two being a player option. If he decides to finish out his contract with Los Angeles, we expect Clayton Kershaw net worth to baloon to over $75 million. After he finishes the contract he will still be just 32 years of age, young enough for another big deal. He has the potential to become one of the highest paid players in the MLB in terms of career earnings. While nobody can predict the future, we do know one thing; Clayton Kershaw will be a very rich man for a long time to come.
James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek. When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College. He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.
One thought on “Clayton Kershaw Net Worth”