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. Over his career, Kershaw earned more than $307 million in salary and tens of millions more from endorsements.

Clayton Kershaw is one of the most accomplished and respected pitchers in Major League Baseball history. Over nearly two decades with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has built a career defined by dominance, precision, and consistency. A three-time Cy Young Award winner (2011, 2013, 2014) and the 2014 National League MVP, Kershaw has been the anchor of the Dodgers' rotation since making his debut in 2008. Known for his devastating curveball, pinpoint command, and calm presence on the mound, he has led the National League in ERA five times and in strikeouts three times, routinely ranking among the league's elite despite the evolving demands on modern pitchers.

Kershaw has been selected to ten All-Star Games and helped lead the Dodgers to their long-awaited World Series championship in 2020, ending a 32-year drought for the franchise. Beyond his accolades, he has earned admiration for his work ethic, leadership, and longevity in an era when few pitchers sustain such consistent success.

On July 2, 2025, Kershaw reached another historic milestone when he recorded his 3,000th career strikeout—becoming only the 20th pitcher in MLB history, and just the fourth left-hander, to reach that number. He also joined Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson as one of only three pitchers to record all 3,000 strikeouts with a single team. The achievement further solidified his standing as a generational talent and likely first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Known for his philanthropy as much as his performance, he and his wife, Ellen, founded Kershaw's Challenge, a charitable organization supporting at-risk children and families around the world. His legacy extends well beyond baseball as a model of excellence, humility, and endurance.

Contracts and Career Earnings

Over the course of his career, Clayton Kershaw has earned more than $310 million in Major League Baseball salary and at least $50 million from endorsements, making him one of the highest-paid pitchers in MLB history. His contracts have consistently reflected his elite status and long-term value to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2012, Kershaw signed a two-year, $19 million deal with the Dodgers, setting the stage for a record-breaking payday. In January 2014, he agreed to a seven-year, $215 million contract extension—the largest ever given to a pitcher at the time. The deal included an average annual salary of over $30 million, cementing Kershaw as both the Dodgers' franchise cornerstone and one of baseball's top earners.

On November 2, 2018, he signed a new three-year, $93 million extension that restructured the final two years of his previous contract. At that point, Kershaw still had two years and $65 million remaining, so the new agreement effectively added an additional year and $28 million to his total compensation.

In the later years of his career, Kershaw transitioned to a series of shorter-term contracts as he managed recurring shoulder and back injuries, continuing to re-sign with the Dodgers on one-year deals that balanced flexibility and loyalty. His most recent contracts have kept him as one of the league's highest-paid veterans on a per-start basis.

Off the field, Kershaw's endorsement portfolio has included partnerships with brands such as Wilson, Nike, and Topps. At his peak, between June 2017 and June 2018, he earned an estimated $35 million from salary and endorsements combined, underscoring both his dominance on the mound and his marketability beyond it.

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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