Shohei Ohtani’s Reported 3.6 Billion Yen Real Estate Splurge and Shift in Money Sense
There’s been a growing sentiment pointing out a change in Shohei Ohtani’s financial sense —.
When it comes to Ohtani, it was just recently that there was a stir over former personal interpreter Ippei Mizuhara allegedly withdrawing around 2.6 billion yen from Ohtani’s account without authorization. While this is an astronomical sum for the average person, Ohtani seemed oblivious to being swindled for years, showcasing a certain indifference and largesse in a way.
Concurrently with Mizuhara’s incident, it emerged that Ohtani had purchased a villa in Hawaii for about 2.5 billion yen. Situated in the upscale residential area of “Hapuna Estates,” in the exact middle of 14 residences, it boasts the best location overlooking a golf course and the sea. The property, spanning approximately 4000 square meters, is equipped for pitching and batting practice, and there are even plans for a dog run space specifically for their beloved pet “Dekopin.”
Furthermore, it was recently revealed that Ohtani purchased a luxurious mansion in Los Angeles for about 1.2 billion yen. In addition to a pool, considering his wife Tomomi’s background as a former corporate basketball player, there’s a basketball court in the garden.
American newspapers published aerial photographs of the mansion. The modern residence standing on vast land exudes an aura fitting for a successful individual.
“While Mizuhara allegedly stole 2.6 billion yen, Ohtani went on a separate spending spree totaling over 3.7 billion yen. It truly made me realize that we commoners live in a different world. The stolen 2.6 billion yen might be a trivial issue in Ohtani’s eyes.” (Sports newspaper baseball reporter)
Amidst this, some online news outlets have published articles focusing on Ohtani’s changed financial sense. In a press conference at the Japan Press Club in November 2021, Ohtani was asked about his spending.
“I don’t particularly spend anything, so my savings just keep increasing for now.”
He answered, citing the fact that during his time with the Nippon-Ham Fighters, some media wrote about his “¥10,000 monthly lifestyle.”
The pinnacle was an episode from his days at Hanamaki Higashi High School (Iwate). When his parents tried to give him pocket money, Ohtani replied,
“I still have ¥1000, so I’m fine.”
Although he received ¥12,000 to ¥3000 spending money for his middle school field trip, he reportedly returned the leftover money along with souvenirs upon returning home.
Taking these into account, the report stated,
“‘¥10,000 Monthly Lifestyle’ is now a thing of the past. Ohtani’s financial sensibility has made a complete 180-degree turn.”
Referring to a ranking by the U.S. economic magazine “Forbes” of sports figures’ earnings over the past year, where Ohtani ranked 13th overall with approximately ¥13.25 billion, the report concluded,
“It seems that extraordinary income has changed his financial sensibility.”
On the internet, opinions followed.
“Buying things isn’t a big deal.”
“It’s as if spending is forbidden.”
“It’s natural for (his financial sensibility) to change now that he has a family.”
A major sports journalist supplemented,
“The assertion that Ohtani has become a spendthrift is mistaken. His villa in Hawaii is a facility for comfortable conditioning during the offseason, and his home in Los Angeles is a manifestation of cherishing time with his family. It’s all about making choices to achieve the best results in baseball without unnecessary stress.”
In the United States, involvement in charity and social contributions by celebrities is questioned even more than in Japan. Ohtani is no exception. Last year, he donated 60,000 gloves to elementary schools in Japan. In March of this year, he announced the “SHOW YOUR DREAMS 2024” project with ECC, which aims to present overseas study and homestays to 100 elementary, middle, and high school students who share the desire to support Japanese children’s overseas challenges. All expenses, including airfare and accommodation, will be covered by Ohtani.
In addition, as part of the “Dream Big! Project,” on Children’s Day, May 5th, approximately 2500 [Air] mattresses from bedding manufacturer Nishikawa were presented to children nationwide.
“Regarding the Noto Peninsula earthquake earlier this year, he has donated $1 million (¥140 million) jointly with the Dodgers and others. While Ohtani’s property purchases have been the talk of the town, he is also actively engaged in social contributions,” said the same sports journalist.
Some may say that earning a lot of money has changed his personality, but it seems there’s no need to worry about Ohtani in that regard.
