Johnny Damon built a net worth of $70 million from his MLB contracts and endorsements during his playing career and post-retirement.
Johnny Damon is a retired American professional baseball player who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball. Damon was a two-time All-Star and won two World Series championships. Damon was among baseball’s most dynamic leadoff hitters and center fielders at his peak.
Johnny earned over $109 million in salary alone over his 18 MLB seasons. Damon’s early life, college years at the University of Florida, and rapid rise through the minor leagues to MLB stardom laid the foundation for his successful baseball career.
Johnny Damon Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Johnny Damon has built a net worth of $70 million as of 2023. He earned over $109 million in salary during his 18-year Major League Baseball career from 1995 to 2012.
Additional income sources include his MLB signing bonuses, endorsement deals, appearances, and investments.
As a high-profile baseball star, Damon earned sponsorship deals with brands like Rawlings, New Balance, Upper Deck, and Ike Behar. He also appeared in commercials for companies like Skechers, Subway, Visa, and Comerica Bank.
Since retirement, Damon has earned income as an MLB analyst, making guest appearances on networks like ESPN, MLB Network, Fox Sports, and local sports broadcasts.
Early Life and Amateur Baseball Career
Johnny David Damon was born on November 5, 1973, in Fort Riley, Kansas. His mother, Yome, was Thai, and his father, Jimmy, was an American serviceman stationed in Thailand. Damon’s parents met and married while his father served in the United States Army in Thailand.
The family eventually settled in Orlando, Florida, when Damon was young. He played Little League baseball there and became a Dr. Phillips High School star player. Damon was named to the 1992 USA Today All-USA high school baseball team after batting .461 with nine home runs as a senior.
Damon was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1st round of the 1992 MLB draft out of high school. He opted not to sign with the Royals and instead chose to play college baseball at the University of Florida.
College Baseball Career
At the University of Florida, Damon was a standout outfielder on the baseball team from 1992 to 1993. During his college career, he batted .331 with 164 hits, 101 runs scored, and 47 stolen bases.
Damon’s speed and hitting ability at Florida made him a hot MLB prospect. He was named First Team All-SEC twice and All-American once with the Gators. Damon still holds the University of Florida school records for runs scored (114) and triples (16) in a season.
MLB Beginnings with Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals selected Damon in the 1st round again in the 1995 MLB draft after his junior season at Florida. Damon signed with the Royals this time and received a $790,000 signing bonus.
Damon rapidly advanced through the minor leagues and made his MLB debut with the Royals on August 12, 1995, at just 21 years old. He served as the Royals’ primary center fielder and leadoff hitter from 1996 to 2000, stealing at least 35 bases each season.
Damon’s speed, defense, and ability to get on base sparked those Royals teams. His breakout season came in 2000 when he batted .327 with a .841 OPS, 16 home runs, and 46 stolen bases. Damon was emerging as a star.
Source of Income
Johnny Damon amassed his net worth through substantial income earned as a professional baseball player in MLB. During his 18-year MLB career spanning 1995 to 2012, Damon earned over $109 million in salary playing for teams like the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees. At his peak, he signed contracts worth $6 million to $13 million annually.
Damon also earned lucrative signing bonuses as a 1st round draft pick out of high school and college. His first bonus from the Royals in 1995 was $790,000. As a star MLB player, Damon signed endorsement deals with major brands like Rawlings, New Balance, Upper Deck, and Skechers that contributed to his income.
Since retiring from baseball in 2012, Damon has worked as an MLB analyst and commentator for networks like ESPN, MLB Network, and Fox Sports. He also earns income from public appearances, autograph signings, and investments.
Earnings and Salary
Johnny Damon earned over $109 million in salary during his 18 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2012. He was among the highest-paid players in the league during his prime years in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Damon signed contracts with total values exceeding $20 million on five separate occasions during his career, including a 7-year, $140 million deal with the New York Yankees in 2006, which was his largest. He earned over $10 million in single-season salaries five times, maxing out at $13 million annually during his Yankees stint from 2006 to 2009.
Damon also earned substantial income from signing bonuses like the $790,000 he received from the Kansas City Royals as a 1st round draft pick in 1995. Endorsement deals with significant brands further contributed millions to Damon’s career earnings.
His accomplishments, such as 2 All-Star selections, 2 World Series rings, and over 2,750 career hits, boosted his income potential.
Personal Life and Relationships
Damon has been married twice during his life. His first marriage was to Angela Vannice from 1992 to 2002. They had twins together named Austin and Devon, born in 1999.
In 2004, Damon married Michelle Mangan, whom he first met in 2000. They have six children together – Madelyne (born 2003), Jackson (2005), Avis (2007), Sailor (2008), Scout (2010), and Journey (2012).
Damon and his family have lived in Florida and Arizona since he retired from baseball in 2012. Despite two high-profile marriages, Damon has kept his personal and family life reasonably private. His focus has remained on his wife, children, and commitment to baseball.
Business Ventures
Johnny Damon has grown his impressive net worth through ownership stakes and partnerships with various companies and brands. Damon opened an Orlando-based restaurant called Damon’s in 2013 and a large East Orlando fitness club in 2016.
He also partnered with former MLB pitcher Tim Wakefield to open a baseball training and pro shop facility called Johnny Damon’s House of Slam in Connecticut 2018.
Damon has additionally invested in and endorsed brands like CBDMedic, a THC-free CBD products company, and Franklin Loan and Finance, a direct mortgage lender. He also generates income through officially licensed NFTs featuring his name and baseball highlights.
Damon has successfully capitalized on his fame through diverse business ventures in the restaurant, fitness, sports training, CBD, finance, and digital collectibles industries. These provide Johnny Damon with ongoing income streams beyond his playing career.
FAQs on Johnny Damon Net Worth
What was Johnny Damon’s total career MLB salary earnings?
Damon earned $109,338,933 in total salary over his 18-year MLB career spanning 1995-2012. He was one of the highest-paid players of his era.
What was Damon’s highest single-season salary?
Damon’s top single-season salary was $13 million, earned from 2006-2009 while playing for the New York Yankees.
How much did Damon earn in signing bonuses?
Damon received a $790,000 signing bonus after being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1995. He later got an estimated $300,000 prize from the Boston Red Sox in 2001.
What were Damon’s foremost endorsements and sponsorships?
Damon earned endorsement income from significant brands like Rawlings, New Balance, Ike Behar, Upper Deck, and Skechers during his playing career.
Final Thoughts
Johnny Damon built a highly successful MLB career through hard work, dedication, and reliability as a leadoff hitter. His speed, hitting ability, and clutch postseason performances helped two franchises – the 2004 Red Sox and 2009 Yankees – end lengthy World Series droughts.
Damon earned nearly $110 million in salary and built a net worth of $70 million. His career highlights, World Series titles, All-Star selections, and longevity earmarked him as one of the best all-around outfielders of his era.
