US business magazine Forbes says Japanese two-way star Ohtani Shohei is now the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball, with total earnings for the 2023 season estimated at 65 million dollars, an MLB record.

The magazine has announced baseball's ten highest-paid players for this year.

It says nearly half of Ohtani's earnings come from the 30 million dollar one-year contract extension he signed with the Los Angeles Angels in October. He is also expected to collect at least 35 million dollars from 13 endorsement partnerships.

Ohtani's endorsement portfolio has grown significantly in just half a year. It was estimated at 20 million dollars last October.

In second place on Forbes' list was New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, with 59.3 million dollars, followed by Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, the 2022 American League MVP, at 44.5 million dollars.

Ohtani's Angels teammate Mike Trout was in fifth place, with 39.5 million dollars.

Ohtani's endorsement number stands out at more than seven and a half times the 4.5 million dollars expected by Aaron Judge, the next highest off-the-field earner.

Forbes says Ohtani's continued popularity on both sides of the Pacific is the most significant factor in his endorsement earnings.