Largest Guaranteed Deal in Professional Sports History
The highest sports contract ever is the 25-year, $700 million deal signed by Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. The contract includes $700 million fully guaranteed, making it the largest guaranteed contract in North American sports history. The agreement runs through the 2047 season and features no opt-outs, with the full amount protected regardless of performance or injury. This deal surpassed previous records held by stars in basketball and football and redefined the financial scale of athlete compensation across all leagues. For a detailed breakdown of the contract structure and financial terms, see the official team announcement and analysis on Forbes.
Ohtani’s contract is structured with a unique deferred payment plan, with $680 million paid out after the deal ends, starting in 2048. The annual salary is modest in the early years, with the bulk of the value tied to the deferred payments. This structure allows the Dodgers to manage luxury tax and salary cap considerations in the short term while securing Ohtani’s services for the long term. The deal is fully guaranteed, including injury protection, and sets a new benchmark for the highest sports contract ever in terms of total value and security.
Comparison to Previous Record-Holding Contracts
Before Ohtani’s deal, the highest sports contract ever was held by Lionel Messi, whose two-year contract with Inter Miami in 2023 was worth approximately $130 million per season in total compensation. In the NBA, the largest contract is the five-year, $290 million extension signed by Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors. In the NFL, the highest total value belongs to Dak Prescott, who signed a four-year, $160 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021. These contracts, while massive, are dwarfed by the total value and guarantee structure of Ohtani’s record-setting agreement.
In the NHL, the largest contract is the eight-year, $104 million deal signed by Connor McDavid with the Edmonton Oilers. In Major League Baseball, the previous record was the 10-year, $365 million contract signed by Mike Trout with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani’s deal exceeds all of these in total value and guarantees, cementing its place as the highest sports contract ever across all major professional leagues. The comparison highlights the unprecedented financial commitment teams are now making to elite talent, especially in baseball where the sport’s structure allows for such long-term, high-value agreements.
Financial and Structural Impact of the Largest Athlete Deal
The financial impact of the highest sports contract ever is significant for both the Dodgers and the broader league. The deal is structured to minimize immediate luxury tax penalties, with the bulk of the salary deferred until after Ohtani’s playing career ends. This allows the Dodgers to remain competitive under MLB’s competitive balance tax system while securing a generational talent. The contract also includes standard performance incentives and bonuses, though the core guarantee is the defining feature that sets it apart from all previous deals.
The structural innovation of Ohtani’s deal has already influenced how teams approach contract negotiations, particularly for two-way players and international stars. The deferred payment model may become a template for future mega-deals, allowing teams to manage cap space while offering players life-changing financial security. As the highest sports contract ever, this agreement sets a new standard for athlete compensation and reflects the growing financial scale of professional sports. For further analysis on the financial implications and tax considerations, see the detailed reporting on ESPN.