What is George Brett's Net Worth?
George Brett is a retired professional baseball player with a net worth of $20 million. He played for 21 seasons with the MLB's Kansas City Royals, accumulating numerous distinctions. Brett has the second most career hits of any third baseman in league history, with 3,154, and is the only MLB player to win batting titles in three different decades. He is one of only four players to maintain a .300 batting average, 300 home runs, and over 3000 hits throughout their career. Brett was a 13-time All-Star, won the Silver Slugger Award three times, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with a 98% voting approval in 1999. He retired from major league play in 1993.
Career Earnings
Throughout his MLB career, George Brett earned over $23.5 million in salary. His highest single-season salary of $3.105 million was in 1991. Adjusted for inflation, that's equivalent to around $6 million today. Comparatively, the highest-paid players in the league today earn close to $40 million per year in salary.
Early Life and Minor Leagues
George Brett was born on May 15, 1953, in Glen Dale, West Virginia, as the youngest of four sons of Ethel and Jack Brett. His older brothers, Ken, John, and Bobby, all played professional baseball. The family moved to the Midwest and then to El Segundo, California, where Brett attended El Segundo High School, graduating in 1971. He played alongside pitcher Scott McGregor on the school baseball team.
Brett began his professional career as a shortstop but was soon switched to third baseman due to difficulties moving to his right. He played for minor league teams such as the Billings Mustangs, San Jose Bees, and Omaha Royals.
Kansas City Royals in the 70s
In 1973, Brett was promoted to the major leagues by the Kansas City Royals. During his first season, he played 13 games and batted .125. He improved his average to .282 in 113 games in 1974. The following season, he surpassed the .300 mark for the first time, hitting .308 and leading the league in hits and triples. In 1976, he won his first batting title with a .333 average. Setting an MLB record, he had three or more hits in six consecutive games in May. Brett made his first of 13 All-Star appearances and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Royals won the AL West Division title, starting a famed rivalry with the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Though Brett hit a crucial three-run homer in the final game, the Yankees ultimately won.
Brett's reputation as a power hitter grew in 1977 when he hit 22 home runs. Despite a strong performance, including an RBI triple in the decisive game, the Royals were defeated by the Yankees again in the ALCS. In 1979, Brett finished third in AL MVP voting and became only the sixth MLB player to record at least 20 doubles, triples, and homers in a single season.
Kansas City Royals, 1980-1984
Brett's performance peaked in 1980 when he won the AL MVP title and batted .390—a modern record for a third baseman. This batting average was the highest single-season average since 1941. Brett also led the AL in slugging and on-base percentage. The Royals won the AL West and defeated the Yankees in the ALCS to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Despite losing the World Series in six games, Brett's performance was stellar until he had to leave game two due to hemorrhoids.
In July 1983, Brett hit a two-run homer against the Yankees, sparking controversy over the amount of pine tar on his bat. Despite the initial ruling against him, the game was resumed the following month, resulting in a Royals win.
Charlie Neibergall-Pool/Getty Images
Kansas City Royals, 1985-1993
In 1985, Brett was instrumental in leading the Royals to their second ALCS title. He won a Gold Glove and finished second in AL MVP voting. In the playoffs against the Blue Jays, he was the MVP, guiding the Royals to their second consecutive World Series. Brett batted .370 across seven games, helping the Royals clinch their first World Series title after overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Cardinals.
By 1988, Brett had moved to first base to minimize injury risks. He had an impressive season with a .306 average, 24 homers, and 103 RBIs. Although 1989 was a weaker year for Brett, he bounced back in 1990, eventually securing his third batting title. From 1990 to 1993, Brett mainly played as a designated hitter, surpassing the 3,000 hit milestone. He retired from playing in 1993.
Personal Life and Post-Playing Career
In 1992, Brett married Leslie Davenport. They have three children: Jackson, Dylan, and Robin, and reside in Mission Hills, Kansas.
After retiring, Brett became a vice president for the Royals and took on various coaching responsibilities. He co-runs Brett Bros., a baseball equipment company, with his brother Bobby. Additionally, Brett raises money for ALS research and supports PETA.
