Clayton Kershaw Net Worth

What is Clayton Kershaw's Net Worth and Salary?

Clayton Kershaw is an American professional baseball player who has a net worth of $170 million. Clayton Kershaw has spent his entire 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, establishing himself as one of the most dominant and consistent left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history. A three-time National League Cy Young Award winner (2011, 2013, 2014) and the 2014 NL MVP, Kershaw also won the pitching Triple Crown in 2011 and has been selected to ten All-Star Games. Known for his pinpoint control, high spin rate, and signature curveball, Kershaw led the league in ERA five times and in strikeouts three times. He was instrumental in helping the Dodgers win the 2020 World Series and has remained a cornerstone of the franchise for nearly two decades.

On July 2, 2025, Kershaw recorded his 3,000th career strikeout, becoming just the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach that milestone. He accomplished it by striking out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox in the sixth inning of a tightly contested game. Kershaw joined an elite group that includes only four left-handers to ever hit the 3,000-strikeout mark—Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, and CC Sabathia among them. He also became just the third pitcher to tally all 3,000 strikeouts with a single team, alongside legends Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson.

The milestone further cements Kershaw's legacy as a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest pitchers of the modern era. Given current trends in pitcher usage, many analysts believe he may be the last to reach 3,000 strikeouts for quite some time.

Contracts and Career Earnings

Clayton Kershaw has signed multiple high-value contracts over the course of his career, reflecting his status as one of the premier pitchers in baseball. In 2012, he agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Dodgers. The following year, in January 2014, he signed a landmark seven-year, $215 million contract extension—the largest ever for a pitcher at the time.

On November 2, 2018, Kershaw signed a new three-year, $93 million extension that restructured the final two years of his existing deal. At the time, he still had two years and $65 million remaining, so the extension effectively added an extra year and $28 million to the total value.

He continued signing shorter-term deals as his career progressed. After a series of one-year contracts in the early 2020s, he remained with the Dodgers while managing injuries and workload. By the end of the 2024 season, Kershaw had earned over $310 million in MLB salary alone.

Off the field, Kershaw has been a sought-after brand ambassador, with endorsement deals that have reportedly brought in at least $50 million over his career. At his earnings peak, between June 2017 and June 2018, he made $35 million from salary and endorsements combined.

Early Life and High School

Clayton Kershaw was born on March 19, 1988, in Dallas, Texas, to Marianne and Christopher. When he was ten, his parents divorced, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. As an adolescent, Kershaw went to Highland Park High School, where he played both baseball and varsity football. He soon proved his aptitude for the former sport, recording a 13-0 record with a 0.77 ERA in 2006. Moreover, Kershaw pitched a perfect game and hit a grand slam, making him a top prospect coming out of high school.

Career Beginnings in the Minors

In the 2006 MLB draft, Kershaw was chosen with the seventh overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went on to begin his professional baseball career with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Dodgers, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.95 ERA. Thanks to his 96-mph fastball, he was rated the top prospect in the GCL. The next season, Kershaw was promoted to the Great Lake Loons. He then moved to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League.

Los Angeles Dodgers, 2008-2015

Kershaw was added to the Dodgers' active roster in the spring of 2008. In his debut, he became the youngest player in the MLB at the age of 20. Kershaw concluded his rookie season with a 5-5 record and a 4.26 ERA in 22 games. The next season, he made his playoff starting debut in the NLDS, which the Dodgers won over the St. Louis Cardinals. In the subsequent NLCS, the team fell to the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2010, Kershaw had a career highlight by throwing his first career complete game in a win over the San Francisco Giants. He finished the season going 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA. Kershaw had his best year yet in 2011, pitching three complete games and winning the NL pitching Triple Crown. Additionally, he won the Gold Glove Award and his first Cy Young Award. Kershaw had another strong year in 2012, leading the league with a 2.53 ERA and coming in second for the Cy Young.

Kershaw kicked off the 2013 season by pitching a complete game on opening day against the Giants. In April, he notched his 1,000^th career strikeout. He concluded the season with a league-best 1.83 ERA and won his second Cy Young Award. Kershaw topped himself in 2014, finishing with a 1.77 ERA and picking up his third Cy Young. He was also named NL MVP. The next season, Kershaw became the 11^th player in MLB history to strike out 300 batters in a single season. In Cy Young voting, he finished in third.

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Los Angeles Dodgers, 2016-2025

Kershaw's 2016 season was plagued by injury. However, he came back in time to help the Dodgers to the NLDS, where they beat the Washington Nationals. The team ultimately fell to the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. In 2017, Kershaw posted his 2,000^th career strikeout en route to wins in both the NLDS and the NLCS. The Dodgers went on to face off against the Houston Astros in the World Series, losing in seven games. The team returned to the World Series the next year, this time falling to the Boston Red Sox. In 2019, the Dodgers made it to the NLDS, where they lost to the Nationals.

The Dodgers roared back to success in 2020, beating the San Diego Padres in the NLDS and the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. Finally, the team defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, giving Kershaw his first World Series championship title. Following this victory, Kershaw had an injury-plagued 2021 that kept him out of the postseason. He bounced back in 2022 to set a new franchise strikeout record, with 2,697.

Following his record-setting 2022 season—when he became the Dodgers' all-time strikeouts leader—Clayton Kershaw continued to contribute at a high level, though his career entered a new phase of careful workload management due to recurring shoulder and back issues. In 2023, he was selected to his tenth All-Star Game and posted a strong first half, but spent much of the second half recovering from left shoulder discomfort. Despite missing time, he finished the season with a 2.46 ERA across 24 starts and helped lead the Dodgers into the postseason once again.

In 2024, Kershaw underwent surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments in his shoulder during the offseason and did not return until later in the year. He rejoined the Dodgers in September and made several key starts down the stretch, contributing to the team's playoff push. Though his velocity was diminished, his command and poise remained intact.

On July 2, 2025, Kershaw reached one of the most prestigious milestones in Major League Baseball history: his 3,000th career strikeout. He became just the 20th pitcher in MLB history—and only the fourth left-hander—to hit that mark, striking out Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox in a historic moment at Dodger Stadium. The strikeout further cemented Kershaw's legacy not only as a Dodgers icon but as one of the most accomplished pitchers of the modern era.

Personal Life and Humanitarianism

In late 2010, Kershaw married his longtime girlfriend, Ellen Melson. Together, they have four children and have residences in Los Angeles, California, and University Park, Texas.

Kershaw has carried out a number of humanitarian projects over the years. In 2011, he and his wife visited Zambia with the intention of building an orphanage in Lusaka called Hope's Home. He donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the project, and raised further funds through his and his wife's book "Arise." Meanwhile, through his Kershaw Challenge campaign, he has raised money for such groups as Arise Africa, CURE International, Mercy Street, and I Am Second.

Real Estate

In November 2014, several months after signing a $215 million extension with the Dodgers, Clayton and Ellen paid $4 million for a mansion in Studio City, California.

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