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Latino money machines! The highest paid active Latino athletes in U.S. professional sports
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Juan Soto tops the list after securing the largest contract in professional sports history with the New York Mets.
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Major League Baseball dominates the ranking with nine of the ten highest active Latino contracts.
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Karl Anthony Towns highlights the list as the sole non-baseball athlete among the elite earners.
The impact of Latino representation in United States professional sports has reached historic milestones both through athletic performance and financial value. As Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the cultural contributions of Latin American communities, rising television deals and global commercial growth have propelled Latino athletes to the absolute top of the sports economy. When examining active base-salary contracts signed with U.S. teams or leagues, excluding outside endorsements and international promotional deals, a select group of athletes stands out for securing some of the most lucrative deals in sports history.
1. Juan Soto – New York Mets ($765 Million)
Dominican outfielder Juan Soto made history by signing an unprecedented 15 year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, becoming the highest-paid athlete in professional sports history. With incentives that could drive the total value beyond $800 million, the superstar earns an estimated $314,000 per game over the course of the agreement.
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2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays ($500 Million)
Dominican slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cemented his place among baseball’s highest earners by agreeing to a massive 14 year, $500 million contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal pays the star infielder an average annual salary of $35.7 million, translating to roughly $220,000 per game.
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3. Manny Machado – San Diego Padres ($350 Million)
Veteran third baseman Manny Machado locked in his long-term future in 2023 by signing an 11 year, $350 million extension with the San Diego Padres through 2034. Known for his elite defense, the Dominican star earns a consistent average salary of $31.8 million per season in Southern California.
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4. Francisco Lindor – New York Mets ($341 Million)
Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor holds the fourth spot thanks to the 10 year, $341 million extension he signed with the New York Mets. Running through 2031, the agreement guarantees the marquee infielder an annual average payout of $34.1 million.
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5. Fernando Tatis Jr. – San Diego Padres ($340 Million)
Dominican star Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks fifth on the list following the 14 year, $340 million contract extension he reached with the San Diego Padres. The long-term pact secures the dynamic outfielder an average yearly salary of $24.3 million through the 2034 season.
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6. Rafael Devers – San Francisco Giants ($313.5 Million)
Dominican third baseman Rafael Devers originally agreed to a 10 year, $313.5 million extension with the Boston Red Sox, but after his trade to the San Francisco Giants, the West Coast franchise assumed his full contract obligations through 2033, paying him $31.35 million annually.
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7. Nolan Arenado – St. Louis Cardinals ($260 Million)
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has consistently honored his Cuban roots, inked an 8 year, $260 million deal originally with the Colorado Rockies before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who assumed the majority of the contract paying him $32.5 million per year through 2026.
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8. Karl Anthony Towns – New York Knicks ($224 Million)
Dominican American center Karl Anthony Towns represents the lone NBA player on the list with his 4 year, $224 million deal. Following his trade to the New York Knicks, Towns commands the highest single-game payout on the list at over $682,000 per contest.
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9. Julio Rodríguez – Seattle Mariners ($120 to $470 Million)
Dominican outfielder Julio Rodríguez agreed to one of the most complex contract structures in sports, featuring a base value of $120 million over 7 years with the Seattle Mariners that can scale up to $470 million depending on MVP finishes and team options.
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10. Carlos Correa – Houston Astros ($200 Million)
Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa rounds out the top ten with his 6 year, $200 million contract originally signed with the Minnesota Twins, an agreement now taken over by the Houston Astros paying him $33.3 million annually.
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Key exceptions outside the ranking: Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Lionel Messi
Two of global sports’ biggest Latino figures do not appear on this specific list due to contract structures. Mexican boxing star Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez fights extensively in the U.S., but his mega deal worth nearly $400 million is backed by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Meanwhile, Argentine icon Lionel Messi leads MLS in compensation with Inter Miami at around $20 million annually, a historic figure for soccer that remains below the top tier thresholds set by MLB and NBA megacontracts.
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