When it comes to cashing in, nobody did it better than Alex Rodriguez. The former New York Yankees and Texas Rangers star crushed 696 home runs in his career. But while he wreaked havoc from the batter’s box, Rodriguez did his best work at the negotiating table.
Max
The owner of two of the richest contracts in professional sports, A-Rod has nearly $500 million in career earnings. And though he retired from baseball in 2016, he’s still collecting paychecks from the Texas Rangers. That won’t stop anytime soon. In fact, the Rangers won’t stop paying their former slugger until 2025, when A-Rod will be 50 years old.
According to Sports Illustrated, “At the time he was traded, he was to receive $36 million in deferred money from that record deal. That was converted to an assignment bonus, which has racked up two percent in interest every year.”
When the Rangers franchise declared bankruptcy in 2010
A smart move by A-Rod
So as it turns out, Rodriguez actually made more money on his deferred payment plan. Chalk that up as another smart move by a guy who has made arguably the greatest turnaround of any athlete in his post-playing career. And by the time the scorned slugger collects his last baseball-related paycheck in 2025, he’ll be 50 years old.