Net Worth Ranker
What Is Todd Helton’s Net Worth?
Todd Helton, a celebrated former American professional baseball player, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $75 million. His financial success is a result of his impressive 17-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily playing for the Colorado Rockies.
Todd Helton’s MLB Career Earnings and Contract Details
During his illustrious MLB career, Todd Helton earned a total of $161 million in salary. His peak earning year was in 2011, when he received $20 million from the Colorado Rockies. At the time of his retirement, Helton ranked among the top 15 highest-paid players in baseball history based on career earnings. This reflects his consistent performance and value to the team throughout his tenure.
Towards the end of his career, Helton agreed to a two-year, $38 million contract extension with the Rockies. A significant aspect of this contract was the deferral of $13 million, plus 3% interest, to be paid out after his retirement. This deferral arrangement resulted in Helton receiving a little more than $1.3 million every season for the decade following his retirement, providing a steady stream of income beyond his active playing years.
Early Life and Collegiate Career
Born on August 20, 1973, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Todd Helton demonstrated his athletic prowess early in life. At Central High School, he excelled in both baseball and football. As a senior on the baseball team, Helton achieved a remarkable .655 batting average with 12 home runs, earning him the title of Regional Player of the Year. Despite being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1992 MLB draft, he chose to pursue college education.
Helton attended the University of Tennessee on an athletic scholarship, where he participated in both baseball and football. As a quarterback for the Volunteers football team, he recorded 484 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions across 12 games. In baseball, Helton amassed a .370 batting average, setting school records with 38 home runs and 238 RBI. Additionally, he pitched 193 innings, maintaining a 2.24 ERA. In his junior season in 1995, Helton was honored with the Dick Howser Trophy, recognizing him as the best collegiate baseball player in the nation.
Minor League Career
In the 1995 MLB draft, Todd Helton was selected in the first round with the eighth overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. He spent the subsequent two years in the minor leagues, gaining experience with the Asheville Tourists, New Haven Ravens, and Colorado Springs Sky Sox. This period was crucial for his development and preparation for his eventual major league debut.
MLB Career with the Colorado Rockies (1997-2006)
Todd Helton was called up to the majors in 1997, making his MLB debut for the Rockies in an August game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He concluded the season with a .280 batting average and five home runs in 35 games. By 1998, Helton became the Rockies’ full-time starter and club representative, batting .315 with 25 home runs and 97 RBI in 152 games.
In 1999, Helton improved further, batting .320 with 35 home runs and 113 RBI, and achieving a cycle in a June game against the Florida Marlins. His most remarkable season came in 2000, where he led the majors in multiple categories, including batting average (.372) and RBI (147). This performance earned him the NL batting title, the Hank Aaron Award, and his first Silver Slugger Award.
From 2001 to 2004, Helton continued his success, winning three more consecutive Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards. In 2001, he recorded a career-high 49 home runs, and in 2002, he became the first Rockies player to score at least 100 runs in four consecutive seasons. Helton narrowly missed the NL batting title in 2003 and 2004, finishing second to Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds, respectively.
In 2005, Helton experienced his first disappointing season due to a calf injury, finishing with a .320 batting average, 20 home runs, and 79 RBI. Injuries continued to affect him in 2006, resulting in a .302 batting average with 15 home runs and 81 RBI.
MLB Career with the Colorado Rockies (2007-2013)
In 2007, Helton recorded his ninth consecutive season with a batting average above .300, along with 17 home runs and 91 RBI. He also became the first player to record 300 home runs for the Rockies. The team clinched the NL wild card, sending Helton to the playoffs for the first time in his career. The Rockies swept the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS, advancing to their first World Series, where they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.
The following season, Helton was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition, casting doubt on his ability to continue playing. In 2009, he recorded his 500th career double. Helton signed a two-year contract extension with the Rockies in 2010, but his back condition led to time on the disabled list, and he finished the season with a .256 batting average, eight home runs, and 37 RBI.
Despite retirement rumors, Helton returned in 2011 and played his 2,000th career game. After a season-ending hip surgery in 2012, he returned in better shape for the 2013 season, recording 15 home runs and 61 RBI in 124 games. Helton retired after the end of the season, hitting a home run and driving in three runs in his final game at Coors Field. He concluded his 17-year career with numerous franchise records, including hits (2,519), home runs (369), RBI (1,406), and games played (2,247).
Todd Helton’s financial security is bolstered by his deferred payments from the Colorado Rockies, ensuring a comfortable post-retirement income. The Rockies franchise records held by Todd Helton are: Hits (2,356) Home runs (347) Doubles (553) Walks (1,252) Runs scored (1,327) RBIs (1,305) On-base percentage (.422) Games played (2,043) Total bases (4,020)
Post-Playing Career
In 2022, Helton returned to the Rockies organization as a special assistant to the general manager, joining Vinny Castilla and Clint Hurdle in the role. This position allows him to remain involved in baseball and contribute to the team’s operations and strategy. This role likely contributes a smaller, but still notable, amount to Todd Helton’s Net Worth.
Personal Life and Real Estate
With his wife Christy, Helton has two daughters. The family previously resided in Brighton, Colorado, before moving to Helton’s hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2018. In 2016, Todd Helton purchased a 14-acre estate in Knoxville, Tennessee, for $2.8 million. The estate includes a 9,600 square foot mansion with 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. In November 2023, Helton listed this home for sale for $5.5 million, indicating a potential profit from the real estate investment. Todd Helton’s Net Worth has surely been affected by the potential earnings of this sale.
