Nolan Ryan is a former American baseball player. He pitched for the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Mets and set several baseball pitching records.
Nolan Ryan's net worth is approximately $80 million. He earned this high amount from nearly three successful decades in the MLB. Additionally, Ryan gained income from administrative positions in the MLB after he retired as a pitcher.
[ninja_tables id=”8314″]Read on to discover more about Nolan Ryan's net worth and how he earned it.
Nolan Ryan's Career
Nolan Ryan began his career in 1965 when he signed on with the New York Mets at just 18 years of age. He played for the Marion Mets and the Green Mets before advancing to the league team, and Ryan became one of the youngest players in the division.
Ryan got his start as a relief pitcher, and it took him a while to prove himself. In the 1969 postseason, he won his first playoff game and made it to the World Series. Nolan Ryan quickly caught the attention of fans and made a name for himself as a reliable pitcher.
The pitcher concluded his time with the Mets in 1971, when his performance started to go downhill. However, he didn't get discouraged and knew the best days were ahead.
Ryan advanced his career with the Los Angeles Angels from 1972-1979 and played as a starting pitcher for the first time, earning four no-hitters during his time with the Angels. He began making a higher income and proved himself as a record-setting player, especially when he struck out over 380 pitchers in the 1973 season.
In 1979, Nolan Ryan left to play with the Houston Astros, who he remained with until 1988. He earned millions of dollars under his contract, pitched another no-hitter, and performed a whopping 1,866 strikeouts. With the Astros, he made it into the National League All-Star team in 1981 and 1985.
The star pitcher joined the Texas Rangers in 1989 and continued his upward ascent into baseball fame. He reached a record-breaking 5000 strikeouts, and Ryan became one of the only players to play professional baseball in four decades and 27 seasons.
Ryan's successful career came to a close in 1993. The now-famous pitcher tore a ligament in his arm and finished his last game in Seattle, Washington. Baseball fans and scholars remember Nolan Ryan as one of the most talented and reliable pitchers in MLB history.
Nolan Ryan's Salary and Contracts Through the Years
[ninja_tables id=”8315″]Nolan Ryan entered the MLB free-agent draft in 1965. The New York Mets selected him in the 12th round and signed him on as a minor-league player. He earned $6,000, plus an additional signing bonus of $12,000. His yearly salary with the Mets equates to about $54,000 today.
$54,000 pales in comparison to today's average annual MLB salary of $4.4 Million. In spite of Ryan playing in an era when MLB salaries were not much more than that of a car salesman, he is still one of the richest MLB players in the world in 2022.
[ninja_tables id=”8698″]After a few years with the Mets, Ryan's career skyrocketed, and so did his paycheck. The New York team traded him in one of the most infamous deals in baseball history, and he earned around $250,000 a year.
In 1970, Nolan Ryan signed onto the Houston Astros for $4.5 million. Under this contract, he received upwards of a million dollars a year for four years. He became the first baseball player to earn such a salary.
Ryan became a free agent in 1988 and chose to sign with the Texas Rangers, and the team guaranteed him $2 million a year in his initial contract. Two seasons before his retirement, Nolan Ryan’s career earnings hit their peak at $4.2 million.
Nolan Ryan's Business Ventures
Nolan Ryan embarked on several successful business ventures after his tenure as a pitcher with the MLB. He became the president of his former team, the Texas Rangers, in 2008 and signed a four-year contract. In 2011, he advanced to the place of CEO and became the head of the Rangers franchise. Ryan retained the position until 2013.
Nolan Ryan's businesses include successful ventures, such as Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment, a media and entertainment company, and his Three Rivers restaurant in Texas. Additionally, the former baseball player owns a beef company based out of Austin, Texas.
Part of the Ryan family's sports and entertainment company includes ownership of the Frisco RoughRiders, a AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers organization.
From 2014 to 2019, Ryan worked as a special assistant to the Houston Astros. He also co-authored six books, which brought Nolan Ryan’s money a hefty royalty salary.
Nolan Ryan's Ranch and Real Estate Holdings
Many people know him as a baseball player, but the Texas native Nolan Ryan has also spent nearly 50 years in the cattle ranch business. Publications like Texas Monthly and Texas Hill Country magazines have featured his ranch, and he even earned a Golden Spur Award for outstanding contributions to the ranching industry in 2011.
Nolan Ryan continued ranching on the side during his time as a pitcher for the MLB and earned money from his cattle business. After he retired from baseball, Ryan turned ranching into a full-time career and drew in a hefty income. His company, Nolan Ryan Beef, is worth over $12 million and reaches a national customer base.
Nolan Ryan’s real estate holdings at his ranch in Austin County. He also has several homes throughout the Texas hill country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these commonly asked about Nolan Ryan's career and records.
Did Nolan Ryan ever pitch a perfect game?
Nolan Ryan never pitched a perfect game, but his consistency and ability to win games made him a great player. With seven no-hitters and multiple World Series appearances, Ryan remains one of the greatest pitchers with no perfect baseball games.
Is Nolan Ryan in the Baseball Hall of Fame?
The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Nolan Ryan in 1999 for his success as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. With over 300 winning games and over 5,000 strikeouts, Nolan Ryan is among the most popular players in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
How fast was Nolan Ryan's fastest pitch?
Nolan Ryan's fastest recorded pitch was around 100.9 miles per hour against the Detroit Tigers in 1974. The record-breaking throw made it into the Guinness Book of Records.
