Ken Griffey Jr. is a 56-year-old American retired baseball player whose net worth is currently estimated to be $90 million as of November 2022. Born in Donora, Pennsylvania, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, the former baseball outfielder spent more than two decades playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) for three different clubs; Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox.
Even in retirement, the Pennsylvania native still earns about $3.5 million annually. This is because of the 9-year $116.5 million contract he signed in 2000 with the Cincinnati Reds in which half of the money was deferred to a later date. The salary will be stopped in 2024.
Early Background Of Ken Griffery Jr.
Ken Griffey Jr was born on November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania to his parents; Alberta Griffey and Ken Griffey Sr. He grew up alongside his brother, Craig Griffey in Cincinnati, Ohio after his family moved there. His father was also a baseball player known to have played for the Cincinnati Reds and is the driving force behind his son’s exploits as one of the best the game has ever known.
Griffey Jr. had his education at Archbishop Moeller High School, Cincinnati, where he started achieving greatness in baseball. First, he became the U.S high school baseball player of the year in 1987, as well as hitting 478 with 17 home runs in the two seasons he spent playing.
Besides, he played American football as a wide receiver and got two scholarships to play college football for Oklahoma and Michigan, but he chose baseball.
Griffey Jr. Earned Approximately $150 Million In Salary During His 22 Years MLB Career
As indicated, Ken Griffey Jr. is currently worth $90 million according to celebritynetworth.com. A huge part of the fortune was earned during his more than two decades MLB career with Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox, where he made about $150 million in salary alone.
The Pennsylvania native started making money after he was selected in the 1987 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners with a signing bonus of $160 thousand.
After 11 seasons with the Mariners, he joined the Cincinnati Reds in 2000 and signed the biggest deal of his career; a whopping $116.5 million 9-year contract. Similarly, nearly 50% of the money was deferred to a future date (2009-2024), which is why he has been receiving $3.5 million annually since then.
In July 2008, Griffey Jr. was traded on deadline day to the Chicago White Sox, where he played for a few months and became a free agent for the first time following the Sox’ refusal of a $16 million option on his head.
Consequently, he returned to the Seattle Mariners where his MLB career began, and was offered a contract in February 2009. He failed to impress on his return and his manager had no choice but to reduce his playing time.
He finally retired from playing in 2010.
His Salary Breakdown
For emphasis and clarity, the tables below give the breakdown of his salary with the Seattle Reds, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox:
The Former MLB Player Also Earns From Other Platforms
Outside his baseball earnings, the Seattle Mariners Hall Famer made a decent amount of money from his various lucrative endorsement deals with different brands. Worthy of note are his multi-million-dollar deals with American footwear brand, Nike and Japanese video game company, Nintendo. In addition, he has been featured on the box of the American cereal brand, Wheaties cereal.
Griffey Jr has also invested in real estate. Sometime in 2004, he bought a big mansion in Windermere, Orlando worth $2.75 million.
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A Look At Some Of His Accolades
During his playing days, the MLB player had stellar performances that earned him several praises and accolades, including the following:
- Gold Glove Award (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
- The Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
- All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (1992)
- Most Valuable Player Award (BBWAA) (1997)
- Outstanding Player of the Year Award (1997)
- Players Choice Player of the Decade Award (1999)
- Comeback Player of the Year Award, for MLB.com, Player’s Choice, and Sporting News (2005)
Besides these awards, he was inducted into the Mariners’ and the Reds’ Hall of Fame. In addition, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 after securing 99.32% of the vote to break Tom Seaver’s 24-year-old record of 98.84%.
Quick Facts About Him
- At the time he made his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners in 1989, his father Ken Griffey Sr was still playing for Cincinnati Reds, hence, the two became the first father and son to play in the MLB at the same time.
- Griffey Jr. tried to commit suicide at the age of 18 when he consumed more than 250 Aspirin pills, but he survived after he was rushed to the hospital.
- The baseball great is a philanthropist, he donated to and supported numerous charities including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and many children’s hospitals in the United States.
- As a result of his salary deferment with the Reds, and a decade after his retirement, he is one of the highest-paid players to ever play for the Reds.
- His son Trey Griffey plays in the NFL as a wide receiver.
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