Ken Griffey Jr. Net Worth [The Kid In The Hall Of Fame]

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Net Worth:	$95 million
Profession/Career:	Professional Baseball Player, Outfielder
College:	Did not attend
Full Name:	George Kenneth Griffey Jr.
Date of Birth:	November 21, 1969
Place of Birth:	Donora, Pennsylvania
Height:	6 ft 2 in

Frequently associated with

Ken Griffey Sr.
Alex Rodriguez
Seattle Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki
Edgar Martinez
Jamie Moyer
Jay Buhner
Dan Wilson

Table of Contents

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Net Worth of Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $95 million in 2022.

The majority of his net worth comes from his career in baseball. Between the years 1989 up until now, he has earned over $165 million dollars in total playing for the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds. Breaking it down by team, he’s earned the following:

Cincinnati Reds (8 seasons): $103 million
Seattle Mariners (13 seasons): $49 million
Chicago White Sox (2 seasons): $6 million

As you can see, over 60% of his overall net worth can be attributed to money he’s made while with the Cincinnati Reds, who he continues to play for to this day.

How much does Ken Griffey Jr. earn in a year?

Ken Griffey Jr. is estimated to have earned roughly $4.3 million a year throughout his career. However, post-retirement, he is continuing to earn $3.6 million a year up through 2024.

His average annual total compensation comes out to around $4.3 million a year for the 22 seasons he has played since 1989. His salary started off on the lower end during the beginning of his career at $68K and has gone as high as $9.1 million for a single year with the Seattle Mariners in 1997 and $9.6 million in 2009. 1997 was also the year he won the AL MVP award. Since 2009, his compensation has tapered off from the all-time high down to $5.9 million by his year of retirement in 2010.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Total Compensation By Year:

1989: $68K
1990: $210K
1991: $700K
1992: $2 million
1993: $5.6 million
1994: $4.6 million
1995: $7.1 million
1996: $7.1 million
1997: $9.1 million
1998: $7.6 million
1999: $7.1 million
2000: $7 million
2001: $6 million
2002: $8 million
2003: $6 million
2004: $6 million
2005: $6 million
2006: $6 million
2007: $6 million
2008: $6 million
2009: $9.6 million
2010: $5.9 million (retired)

However, what’s interesting to note is that he made a deal with the Cincinnati Reds in 2000 that deferred his compensation to later years, in particular to 2009 all the way through 2024. As a result, even after retirement, he has been paid $3.6 million per year and will continue to be paid, from 2011 all the way to 2024. He is the 6th highest-paid person on the Cincinnati Reds payroll in 2022, despite not being on the active roster.

Ken Griffey Jr.’s Total Compensation By Year (post-retirement):

2011: $3.6 million
2012: $3.6 million
2013: $3.6 million
2014: $3.6 million
2015: $3.6 million
2016: $3.6 million
2017: $3.6 million
2018: $3.6 million
2019: $3.6 million
2020: $3.6 million
2021: $3.6 million
2022: $3.6 million
2023: $3.6 million
2024: $3.6 million

For reference, the average player in the MLB makes $4.41 million per season as of 2022, which is up from $4.17 million back in 2021. Still, Ken Griffey Jr.’s $3.6 million is nothing to sneeze at, especially given that he’s retired many years ago and is still raking it in without actively playing for the MLB.

Did Ken Griffey Jr. grow up rich or poor?

Ken Griffey Jr. grew up quite rich in a very well-off family. You may know his father, Ken Griffey Sr., who also played in the MLB as an outfielder from 1973 all the way through 1991, and made good money doing so. Ken Griffey Sr. is estimated to have earned well over $2.3 million during his career by the year 1991, which is equivalent to over $5 million in today’s dollars. Ken Griffey Sr. himself is estimated to have an overall net worth of roughly $2 million in 2022.

How did Ken Griffey Jr. start his baseball career?

Ken Griffey Jr., one of the most celebrated baseball players of all time, embarked on his baseball career with a solid foundation in the sport. Born on November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania, Griffey Jr. had a strong baseball lineage.

His father, Ken Griffey Sr., was an esteemed Major League Baseball (MLB) player, and his grandfather, Buddy Griffey, had also played in the Negro Leagues. Following in their footsteps, Griffey Jr. displayed remarkable talent and athleticism during his time at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

His exceptional skills attracted widespread attention, leading to a first overall selection by the Seattle Mariners in the 1987 MLB draft when he was just 17 years old.

Griffey Jr. made his professional debut in 1989, quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with due to his outstanding hitting, speed, and defensive abilities.

He became renowned for his smooth left-handed swing, impressive power, and spectacular outfield play. Throughout his illustrious career, Griffey Jr. garnered numerous accolades, including 13 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Glove Awards, and the American League MVP Award in 1997. His style of play, infectious smile, and iconic backward baseball cap made him a beloved figure in the baseball world.

In 2016, Griffey Jr.’s extraordinary contributions to the sport were recognized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, solidifying his status as one of the game’s greatest players.