The Wealth of a Legend: Ken Griffey Jr’s Net Worth, Deferred Salary, and Earning Career in 2023

Ken Griffey Jr is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He played 22 seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB), mostly for the Seattle Mariners and the Cincinnati Reds. He was a 13-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, and the 1997 American League MVP. He hit 630 home runs, the seventh-most in MLB history, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.

But how much is Ken Griffey Jr worth in 2023? And why is he still getting paid by the Reds, even though he retired in 2010? In this article, we will explore the baseball legend’s wealth, his deferred salary, his earning career, his education, his partner, his family, and his bio.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Net Worth in 2023

Ken Griffey Jr’s net worth in 2023 is estimated to be around $85 million. This is based on his career earnings, his endorsements, his investments, and his lifestyle. Griffey has been involved in various business ventures, such as owning a minority stake in the Seattle Sounders FC, a professional soccer team. He has also endorsed brands like Nike, Pepsi, Nintendo, and Upper Deck.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Deferred Salary

One of the reasons why Ken Griffey Jr’s net worth is so high is because he is still receiving deferred payments from his contract with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2000, Griffey signed a nine-year, $116.5 million extension with the Reds, his hometown team. However, the contract included $57.5 million in deferred payments, plus four percent interest, from 2009 to 2024. This means that Griffey still earns $3.5 million per year, which will continue until 2025. In fact, Griffey is the fourth-highest paid player on the Reds’ 2023 payroll, behind Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, and Wil Myers.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Earning Career

Ken Griffey Jr made his MLB debut in 1989, at the age of 19, with the Seattle Mariners. He quickly became a star, leading the league in home runs in 1994 and 1998. He also helped the Mariners reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1995. He was traded to the Reds in 2000, where he played for nine seasons. He suffered from injuries and declining performance, but still reached the 500 and 600 home run milestones. He returned to the Mariners in 2009, and retired in 2010. He finished his career with a .284 batting average, 2,781 hits, 1,836 RBIs, and 184 stolen bases. He earned a total of $168.8 million in salary during his 22 seasons.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Education

Ken Griffey Jr attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati, where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. He was drafted by the Mariners as the first overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft, right after his graduation. He did not attend college, but he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in 2017.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Partner

Ken Griffey Jr married Melissa Griffey, a former college basketball player, in 1992. They have three children together: Trey, Taryn, and Tevin. Trey played football at the University of Arizona and briefly in the NFL. Taryn played basketball at the University of Arizona and is now a model. Tevin is a high school baseball player.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Family

Ken Griffey Jr comes from a baseball family. His father, Ken Griffey Sr, was a three-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion with the Reds. He played 19 seasons in the MLB, mostly with the Reds and the New York Yankees. He also played with his son on the Mariners in 1990 and 1991, becoming the first father-son duo to play on the same team. His brother, Craig Griffey, was also a baseball player, but he never reached the MLB. His uncle, Don Griffey, was a professional soccer player.

Ken Griffey Jr’s Bio

Ken Griffey Jr was born on November 21, 1969, in Donora, Pennsylvania. He shares his birthday and birthplace with another baseball legend, Stan Musial. He grew up in Cincinnati, where he idolized his father and learned to play baseball. He was a natural talent, and was drafted by the Mariners at the age of 17. He became one of the most popular and influential players of his generation, known for his sweet swing, his spectacular catches, his backwards cap, and his smile. He was nicknamed “The Kid”, “Junior”, and “The Natural”. He was also a part of the USA Baseball team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He retired in 2010, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016, with a record 99.3 percent of the votes.

Conclusion

Ken Griffey Jr is a baseball legend, who had a remarkable career and a remarkable wealth. He is still getting paid by the Reds, thanks to his deferred salary contract. He is also a family man, who has a supportive partner and three talented children. He is one of the greatest players of all time, and a role model for many.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

• Q: How many home runs did Ken Griffey Jr hit?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr hit 630 home runs, the seventh-most in MLB history.
• Q: What teams did Ken Griffey Jr play for?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr played for the Seattle Mariners, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago White Sox.
• Q: When did Ken Griffey Jr retire?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr retired in 2010, at the age of 40.
• Q: What number did Ken Griffey Jr wear?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr wore number 24 for most of his career, except for his first 11 games with the Mariners, when he wore number 30, and his last season with the White Sox, when he wore number 17.
• Q: What position did Ken Griffey Jr play?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr played mostly as a center fielder, but he also played as a right fielder, a left fielder, and a designated hitter.
• Q: How many MVP awards did Ken Griffey Jr win?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr won one MVP award, in 1997, when he led the AL in home runs, RBIs, runs, and slugging percentage.
• Q: How many Gold Gloves did Ken Griffey Jr win?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr won 10 Gold Gloves, from 1990 to 1999, for his defensive excellence.
• Q: How many All-Star games did Ken Griffey Jr play in?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr played in 13 All-Star games, from 1990 to 1999, and from 2004 to 2007. He also won the All-Star Game MVP in 1992.
• Q: How much is Ken Griffey Jr worth in 2023?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr’s net worth in 2023 is estimated to be around $85 million.
• Q: Why is Ken Griffey Jr still getting paid by the Reds in 2023?
• A: Ken Griffey Jr is still getting paid by the Reds in 2023 because he signed a contract in 2000 that included $57.5 million in deferred payments, plus four percent interest, from 2009 to 2024.