Jim Thome Net Worth

What is Jim Thome's Net Worth?

Jim Thome is a former professional baseball player who has a net worth of $70 million. Jim Thome played in MLB for 22 seasons from 1991 to 2012. He played for six different teams and hit 612 career home runs, among the most of any player in MLB history, and led the NL in home runs in 2003. Thome was also significantly involved in philanthropy during his playing career, and was honored with two Marvin Miller Man of the Year Awards, a Roberto Clemente Award, and a Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in recognition of this work.

Contracts, Salary & Career Earnings

Over his 22-season MLB career, Jim Thome earned approximately $142 million in salary alone. His largest contract came in 2003, when he signed a six-year, $85 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies after spending over a decade with the Cleveland Indians. Thome also earned multi-million-dollar salaries during stints with the White Sox, Dodgers, Twins, and Orioles. In addition to his on-field earnings, he brought in millions more from endorsements and post-retirement broadcasting roles, solidifying his status as one of baseball's most financially successful sluggers of the 1990s and 2000s.

Early Life and Education

James Thome was born on August 27, 1970 in Peoria, Illinois as the youngest of five children in a family of athletes. Growing up, he played both baseball and basketball, earning All-State honors in both at Limestone High School. Thome also played American Legion Baseball. After graduating from high school in 1988, he attended Illinois Central College, where he continued to play baseball and basketball.

Minor League Career

In the 1989 MLB draft, Thome was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 13th round. For his first professional season, he played in the minors with the Gulf Coast League Indians, batting .237 with 22 RBI in 55 games. Thome subsequently began working with former MLB player Charlie Manuel to improve his hitting. He saw immediate results, as he batted .340 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI in the 1990 season. Thome continued to perform well in 1991, batting .319 with seven home runs and 73 RBI.

Cleveland Indians, 1991-2002

Thome was called up to the Indians toward the end of the 1991 season. In early October, he hit his first career home run. Thome split his time between the majors and minors in the 1992 season, which saw his playing time diminished due to injuries. In 1993, he played mostly with the Indians' new Triple-A affiliate the Charlotte Knights of the International League, and led the league with a .332 batting average and 102 RBI. Because of his excellent performance, he was called back up to the Indians to finish the 1993 season. He went on to have his first full MLB season in 1994, when he batted .268 with 20 home runs and 52 RBI. However, the 1994-95 players' strike ultimately ended the season early. Thome had another strong season when MLB resumed in 1995, batting .314 with 25 home runs and 73 RBI to help the Indians clinch the AL pennant. The team made it to the World Series, but lost to the Atlanta Braves. In the 1996 season, Thome scored 38 home runs and earned his first and only Silver Slugger Award.

In 1997, Thome moved from third base to first base after the Indians acquired third baseman Matt Williams. The move paid off, as Thome scored a new career high of 40 home runs to help the Indians achieve a franchise single-season record with 220 home runs. Back in the World Series, the team lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games. Thome had a less productive season in 1998, as a hand injury put him on the disabled list for 35 games. However, he still managed to record 30 home runs and 85 RBI, as well as four home runs in the ALCS. In 1999, Thome had 33 home runs and 108 RBI, as well as four home runs in the ALDS. He had another great season in 2000, with 37 home runs and 106 RBI, and an even better one in 2001, with 49 home runs and 124 RBI. Thome's best season with the Indians was his last, in 2002, as he recorded a career-high 52 home runs and led the AL in walks, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging. His 52 homers set a new franchise single-season record.

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Philadelphia Phillies

A free agent after the 2002 season, Thome signed a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In his first season with the team in 2003, he led the NL in home runs with 47 and tied with Alex Rodriguez as the MLB leader. The next season, Thome hit his 400th career home run. In 2005, he was beset by injury, and underwent elbow surgery that ended his season in August.

Chicago White Sox

In late 2005, Thome was traded to the reigning World Series champions the Chicago White Sox. Appointed as the team's regular designated hitter, he had a terrific first season in Chicago in 2006, batting .288 with 42 home runs and 109 RBI. The following season, Thome entered the 500 home run club with a walk-off homer in a September game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2008, his most memorable moment was arguably his solo home run in the AL Central tie-breaker game against the Minnesota Twins, the only point in the game. The White Sox went on to lose to the Tampa Bay Rays in the subsequent ALDS. In his final season with the team in 2009, Thome batted .249 with 23 home runs and 74 RBI.

Los Angeles Dodgers

At the end of August in 2009, Thome was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, due to chronic foot injuries, he appeared in only 17 games as a pinch hitter during the remainder of the season.

Minnesota Twins

Thome signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent in early 2010. That season, he batted .283 with 25 home runs and 59 RBI, and recorded his best slugging percentage in eight years. Thome signed a new one-year deal with the Twins in 2011, and that season scored his 600th career home run.

Cleveland Indians, 2011

Thome returned to the Indians toward the end of the 2011 season. He played 22 games in his second stint with the team, hitting .296 with three home runs and 10 RBI.

Final Playing Year and Retirement

Thome returned to the Phillies for the 2012 season. In June, he became just the fourth MLB player to score 100 home runs with three different teams; he also broke the record for most career walk-off home runs, with 13. At the end of June, Thome was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. As the team's designated hitter, he helped the Orioles achieve their first winning season and playoffs appearance in 15 years. The team reached the ALDS, where they lost to the New York Yankees. Thome didn't play in MLB again after that, and in the summer of 2014 he officially retired as a member of his first team, the Indians.

Post-playing Career

After his playing career, Thome became a special assistant to the general manager of his old team the White Sox. He also began doing analysis for the MLB Network. In 2018, Thome was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Four years later, he became the new president of the MLB Players Alumni Association.

Personal Life

With his wife Andrea, Thome has two children named Landon and Lila.

Real Estate

Throughout his career and into retirement, Jim Thome has invested in high-end real estate. In 2012, he purchased a $4.6 million mansion in Burr Ridge, Illinois, and soon after listed his previous six-bedroom Hinsdale home for $3.8 million. Earlier, he owned a $4.25 million sprawling estate in New Hope, Pennsylvania, that features a 15,000-square-foot mansion. After retiring from baseball, Thome transitioned into commercial real estate, working with Reece Commercial in Kansas City, where he now brokers deals across land, office, retail, and multifamily sectors.

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