David Wells Net Worth

What is David Wells's Net Worth and Salary?

David Wells is an American former professional baseball pitcher who has a net worth of $25 million. David Wells played 21 seasons in MLB from 1987 to 2007. David Wells played for nine different teams during that time, and won World Series titles with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and the New York Yankees in 1998. In the latter year, Wells pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history.

Contracts, Salaries & Career Earnings

Over the course of his MLB career, David Wells earned a total of $58.6 million. Early in his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, his salary grew from about $82,000 in 1988 to over $2 million by 1992, before signing with the Detroit Tigers for $1.45 million in 1993.

Wells reached peak earnings in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With the New York Yankees, he earned $3.77 million in 1997, $4.67 million in 1998, then $4.82 million in 1999 and $5.5 million in 2000 during his return to Toronto. His highest single-season payout came in 2001 with the Chicago White Sox at $9.25 million.

Contracts later in his career included a one-year, $1.25 million deal with San Diego in 2004, a two-year, $8.15 million contract with Boston in 2005–2006, and a $3 million deal with the Padres in 2007.

Babe Ruth Hat

In 1997, David purchased a game-used Babe Ruth cap at auction for $35,000. On June 28 of that year, during a start for the New York Yankees, Wells wore the iconic 1934 cap on the mound in the first inning—an homage to his childhood idol. Yankees manager Joe Torre quickly made him remove it for violating uniform regulations and fined him $2,500. Wells later said the experience was worth the fine for the thrill of wearing a piece of baseball history in a live game. In 2012, Wells sold the same cap at auction for $537,278. The sale set a record for a piece of Babe Ruth memorabilia at the time.

David Seelig / Getty Images

Early Life and Education

David Wells was born on May 20, 1963, in Torrance, California to single mother Eugenia, who was a member of Hells Angels. He grew up thinking that his father, David Pritt, was dead, but when he was 22, he learned that Pritt was alive and went to find him, starting a relationship.

With his four siblings, Wells was raised in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California. He attended Point Loma High School, where he played both baseball and basketball. As a senior, Wells threw a perfect game, auguring things to come.

Toronto Blue Jays, 1987-1992

Wells joined MLB's Toronto Blue Jays in 1987 as a reliever. He didn't land a major role in the team's starting rotation until 1990, when he started 25 games. The next season, he helped the Blue Jays win the AL East title. In the playoffs, the team lost the ALCS to the Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays won the AL East title for a second consecutive season in 1992. That season, the team became the first in 49 years not to be swept in a single series. The Blue Jays went on to reach the ALCS, where they defeated the Oakland Athletics to earn their first AL pennant. In the 1992 World Series, the Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves in six games, giving Wells his first championship ring. He was released by the team during spring training in 1993, finishing his six-season tenure in Toronto with a 3.88 ERA.

Detroit Tigers, 1993-1995

Shortly after his release by the Blue Jays in the spring of 1993, Wells signed with the Detroit Tigers. In his first season with the team, he went 11-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 32 appearances and 30 starts. During the strike-shortened 1994 season, he went 5-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 16 starts. Wells had something of a breakout season in 1995, going 10-3 with a 3.04 ERA through July.

Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, 1995-1996

At the end of July in 1995, Wells was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. With the team, he went 6-5 with a 3.59 ERA. Wells was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for the 1996 season, and struggled with a dismal 11-14 record and a 5.14 ERA.

New York Yankees, 1997-1998

As a free agent, Wells signed with the New York Yankees in 1997. After a shaky first season with the team, in which he went 16-10, Wells had his greatest career season ever in 1998. In addition to posting an 18-4 record and a 3.49 ERA, he pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history, on May 17 against the Twins. The Yankees finished the regular season at 114-48, setting a new franchise regular-season record. In a similarly dominant postseason campaign, the Yankees swept the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, beat the Cleveland Indians in six games in the ALCS, and won the World Series by sweeping the San Diego Padres.

Toronto Blue Jays, 1999-2000

Wells returned to his original team, the Blue Jays, in 1999. That season, he went 17-10, and in 2000 he was the AL wins leader with a 20-8 record.

Chicago White Sox, 2001

In 2001, Wells was traded in a controversial deal to the Chicago White Sox. His sole season with the team was marred by back problems, and he went 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA in just over 100 innings.

New York Yankees, 2002-2003

Back with the Yankees in 2002, Wells went 19-7 and helped the team clinch another AL East title. However, in the playoffs, the team fell to the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS and failed to advance to the World Series for the first time in five years. Despite generating some controversy for statements he made in his autobiography prior to the 2003 season, Wells had a terrific season in 2003, going 15-7 to help the Yankees win another AL East title and AL pennant. In the World Series, however, the team lost to the Florida Marlins.

San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, 2004-2006

Wells signed with the San Diego Padres as a free agent on New Year's Day, 2004. That year, he went 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA. Wells went on to sign with the Boston Red Sox at the end of the year. His 2005 season started on wobbly ground, but he eventually found his rhythm and went 15-7 with a 4.45 ERA. Wells was less successful in 2006 due to two stints on the disabled list and a lack of desire to keep playing on the East Coast.

San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, 2006-2007

Wells returned to the Padres to finish off the 2006 season. The team ended up winning its second consecutive NL West title before falling in the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals. Wells continued playing for the Padres until he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers toward the end of the 2007 season. With the Dodgers, he went 4-1 with a 5.12 ERA. After the end of the 2007 season, Wells became a free agent.

Post-retirement

In 2009, Wells joined "MLB on TBS" to cover regular-season and postseason games. A couple of years later, he began hosting the program "The Cheap Seats" on FoxSports.com. Wells has also done color commentary for YES Network. Beyond broadcasting, he served as an assistant coach for the baseball team at his alma mater Point Loma High School, and then as head coach from 2014 to 2018.

Personal Life & Real Estate

With his wife Nina Fisher, Wells has two children. Nina is a real estate agent.

Over the years, David and Nina have been very active in the Southern California real estate market, particularly in San Diego's affluent neighborhoods. In the early 1990s, David purchased a sprawling estate in Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe. With Nina, he spent more than $4 million on extensive remodels. The Mediterranean-style property spans more than 12,000 square feet, and includes a guesthouse, home theater, gym, wine cellar, and a large collection of personal memorabilia. In 2014, they listed the estate for around $8 million. They accepted $6 million in 2021.

Around the time they listed that first house, they listed a SECOND home in the same area for $7.7 million. Set on 3.8 acres, they sold this house in 2015 for $6.1 million.

In recent years, David and Nina have primarily lived in Florida. In 2023, they paid $2.2 million for a home in Odessa, Florida.

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