Table of Contents
- Jackie Robinson Net Worth and Salary
- Highlights
- Early Life
- Baseball Career
- Personal Life
- Net Worth Over Time
- Components of Net Worth
Jackie Robinson Net Worth and Salary
| Net Worth | Salary | Birthdate | Birthplace | Gender | Height | Profession | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $6 million (at the time of his death) | $296,000 in salary (adjusted for inflation) | January 31, 1919 | Cairo, Georgia, United States | Male | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) | Professional baseball player | American |
Highlights
Jackie Robinson, born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, was an American professional baseball player who broke the color line in baseball when he made his Major League Baseball debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He played for the Dodgers his entire MLB career until 1956. Robinson was a World Series champion in 1955, a six-time All-Star, the National League MVP in 1949, and the NL batting champion the same year. He was also the MLB Rookie of the Year in 1947 and a two-time NL stolen base leader.
Robinson’s notable achievements include having his number, #42, retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers, which has since been retired by all MLB teams. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1962. Robinson received various honors, including the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom. He passed away on October 24, 1972, at the age of 53 from a heart attack.
Early Life
Jackie Robinson was born into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children. When his father left the family in 1920, they moved to Pasadena, California. Robinson attended Washington Junior High School and later John Muir High School, where he excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, track, and baseball.
In 1936, Robinson won the junior boys singles championship in the annual Pacific Coast Negro Tennis Tournament. He also played baseball and made it to the Pomona baseball tournament all-star team, which included future Hall-of-Famers Ted Williams and Bob Lemon. After graduating from Pasadena Junior College, Robinson continued his athletic career in basketball, baseball, football, and track. He then enrolled at UCLA, becoming the school’s first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports.
Drafted into the Army in 1942, Robinson’s unit, the 761st Tank Battalion, became the first black tank unit to see combat in World War II. However, due to court-martial proceedings related to racial discrimination claims, he did not see action overseas. Robinson was discharged from the Army in November 1944.
Baseball Career
Jackie Robinson made history in 1947 when he broke the color line in baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for the Dodgers throughout his entire MLB career until 1956. Robinson’s remarkable achievements on the field include winning the World Series in 1955 and being selected as a six-time All-Star. In 1949, he was honored as the National League MVP and the NL batting champion. Robinson also earned the title of MLB Rookie of the Year in 1947 and was a two-time NL stolen base leader.
Robinson’s impact on the game of baseball extended beyond his playing career. His jersey number, #42, was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers and later by all MLB teams, with April 15th being recognized as “Jackie Robinson Day” since 2004, during which every player wears the No. 42 jersey. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, Robinson’s contributions to the sport remain legendary.
Throughout his major league career, Robinson achieved an impressive batting average of .313, hit 141 home runs, and recorded 761 runs batted in.
Personal Life
Jackie Robinson met his future wife, Rachel Isum, during his senior year at UCLA. The couple had three children together: Jackie Robinson, Jr., Sharon Robinson, and David Robinson.
Robinson made significant contributions to the civil rights movement both on and off the field. His efforts were recognized posthumously when he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jackie Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at the age of 53 due to a heart attack.
Net Worth Over Time
At the time of his death in 1972, Jackie Robinson had a net worth of $6 million (adjusted for inflation). Throughout his baseball career, Robinson earned a total salary of $296,000 (equivalent to approximately $2.8 million today).
His first professional salary was $400 per month playing for the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1945, he received a $3,500 signing bonus and a monthly salary of $600 while playing for the Montreal Royals, a Dodgers minor league team. When he made his MLB debut in 1947, his salary increased to $5,000 per year. Robinson’s peak salary of $39,750 came in 1952, equivalent to $380,000 today. It is worth noting that average white players were making $50,000 per year, while Joe DiMaggio earned $100,000 during the same time period.
After retiring from baseball in 1957, Look Magazine paid Robinson $50,000 for the exclusive rights to his retirement photos. Additionally, he earned a $50,000 per year salary working at snack company Chock Full o’Nuts.
Components of Net Worth
Aside from his baseball career earnings, Jackie Robinson had other sources of wealth. His largest asset at the time of his death was a six-acre property in Stamford, Connecticut, which he built in 1955. The estate was later divided into four lots and sold off by his heirs. One of the lots was sold in 2011 for $1.7 million.
Robinson also ventured into business, investing in a clothing store called Jackie Robinson Clothiers and founding the Freedom National Bank in 1963. However, both ventures faced challenges, with the clothing store ultimately not being successful and the bank shutting down in 1990 due to financial insolvency.
In the 1960s, Robinson started the Jackie Robinson Construction Company, specializing in building low-income homes and apartments.
Overall, Jackie Robinson’s net worth and legacy extend far beyond his financial wealth. He revolutionized the game of baseball and played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights. His impact on and off the field will forever be remembered and celebrated.