The family history of Shohei Ohtani of Major League Baseball (MLB)’s Los Angeles Angels has been revealed.
Japanese media outlet MoneyPost reported on Shohei Ohtani’s family’s frugality on March 22 (KST) in a story titled “Money education that made him self-reliant”.
“The amount of money Otani has earned this year is more than 8.5 billion yen (about $80.5 billion), which is among the highest in Major League Baseball,” the publication said. “Otani, who earns an annual salary of $30 million (about $39.8 billion), has sponsorship deals with 17 companies,” it said.
“His contract with New Balance, which began sponsoring him this year, is worth ¥4 billion ($37.9 billion),” he added. “Some families with top athletes like him get caught up in big money and their lives are ruined, but the Otani family doesn’t seem to have to worry about that.”
Since Ohtani joined the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) Nippon Ham Fighters in 2012, his bank account has reportedly been managed by his mother. His father, Toru Ohtani, is a professional baseball player and his mother, Kayoko Ohtani, a former badminton representative, now works part-time, according to the media. Although their jobs are mundane, Otani’s parents are able to live on their own income and do not use any of Otani’s money.
MoneyPost revealed a conversation Ohtani had with his parents. When he asked how long he would work, his mother replied, “I can’t depend on you.” His father said, “He’s doing well. “You can’t ask me to feed you just because you’re doing well,” his father wittily said.메이저사이트
Not only are his parents unsupportive, but so are his older brother and sister. “When Otani’s older brother got married, he borrowed 30 million yen (about $290,000) to buy his newlywed home,” the media outlet said. “His older sister didn’t receive any money from him when she rented a detached house,” he added. Growing up in such a family, Ohtani lives a frugal lifestyle. The suits and shoes he wears today are all sponsored.
Since 2018, when his son and brother reached the major leagues, the family has declined all media interviews. “They don’t want to bother him with family matters,” a Japanese media source explained, adding, “I think they want him to focus on baseball.”