[tps_title]19. Alex Rodriguez[/tps_title]
The top athletic empire on our list is undoubtedly Alex Rodriguez, the sensational shortstop who took Major League Baseball by storm as a 21 year old, slick gloved, home run hitting rookie. After several seasons of consistently ranking among baseball’s top performers, Rodriguez parlayed his power hitting pedigree into a $250 million, 10 year contract in 2000 with the Texas Rangers – a record for any athlete in any sport. But Alex wasn’t done cashing in. In 2007, he excersized an opt-out clause in his contract which enabled him to re-up with the New York Yankees for another record deal. This time, A-Rod signed a new record-breaking contract worth more than $300 million over 10 years. This doesn’t even count the money recieved from endorsements, which are unknown to the general public.
Not a bad outcome for a guy who grew up without his father in a New Jersey suburb!
