Buster Posey Left 30 Million On The Table With The Giants And It Was A Brilliant Financial Decision

Towards the end of his career, however, Posey turned down millions of dollars. He adopted twin girls in 2020, so he skipped the entire Covid-19-shortened season. And he retired after the 2021 season when he was only 34 years old. Between those two decisions, Posey left nearly $30 million on the table. Yet it actually might turn out to be a smart move. Posey has made millions through endorsements and investments. Most notably, he was an early investor in sports drink company BODYARMOR. He first invested back in 2013, putting in a higher stake than other players, an amount so high that, per BODYARMOR founder Mike Repole, “you’d be surprised at the number.” Last year, shortly before Posey announced his retirement, Coca-Cola acquired BODYARMOR for $5.6 billion. It’s unknown how much money Posey invested or what percentage stake he has, but we can look to Kobe Bryant as a bit of a guide. Bryant invested $6 million in BODYARMOR back in 2014 and had more than a 10% ownership stake at the time of his death. His estate received $400 million after BODYARMOR was acquired. When Posey invested, BODYARMOR was generating around $6 million in annual sales. Last year the company sold $1.4 billion worth of products. Posey likely earned at least somewhere in the mid-to-high eight figures as part of his investment, and it’s possible he surpassed $100 million. More recently, the San Francisco Giants announced Posey is now a part of the team’s ownership group. It’s the first time in franchise history a former player has become a principal partner and member of the Board of Directors. Even if Posey has a 1% ownership stake, it’s a solid valuation. Let’s conservatively assume the Giants are worth $2 billion. Posey’s share would be worth $20 million, with even more potential to grow. To be fair, Posey had a lucrative career even without an extra $30 million. Per Spotrac, he made about $140.2 million over his 12 seasons in the league. But he retired in relative good health and now gets to spend more time at home with his family. Between his off-the-field sponsorships and endorsements and new position among the owners of a Major League Baseball franchise, he’s in great financial shape for years to come.