What is Scott Boras' net worth, commission, and salary?
Scott Boras is an American sports agent who has a net worth of $450 million. Scott Boras is one of the most powerful and influential sports agents in the world, best known for representing Major League Baseball's top talent and securing record-breaking contracts. A former minor league player and trained lawyer, Boras founded the Boras Corporation in the 1980s after realizing he could better serve players as an advocate and negotiator than as a player. His legal and medical background, combined with a meticulous approach to analytics and market leverage, has made him a dominant force in professional baseball for more than three decades.
Boras gained early notoriety in the 1980s by negotiating groundbreaking free-agent deals and challenging team practices in the draft and arbitration system. He built a reputation for aggressively maximizing client value, often drawing criticism from team executives but admiration from players. His contracts frequently reset market standards and have fundamentally reshaped how MLB teams approach player negotiations.
Boras is known for his high-profile free agent standoffs, hardball tactics, and signature metaphors at press conferences. Despite the controversy, he remains a relentless advocate for his clients and a master strategist in navigating complex multi-year deals. His agency has grown into a billion-dollar enterprise, handling not just contract negotiations but also marketing, public relations, and personal development for players.
Some notable current and former clients include Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Alex Rodriguez, Matt Holliday, Manny Ramirez, and Jayson Werth. As of this writing, Scott has negotiated billions of dollars worth of contracts for his clients, bringing his agency around $100 million in annual commissions. Boras has over 30 years of experience as a sports agent.
Scott Boras Salary/Commission
How much does Scott Boras make, and how does he charge his clients?
Scott earns a 5% commission on all contracts he negotiates for his clients. So, for example, between September 2017 and September 2018, he negotiated $1.88 billion worth of contracts for various clients. His commission on those deals was $105 million.
In a one-week period in December 2019, Scott negotiated the following deals:
- $245 million for Stephen Strasburg (from the Nationals)
- $324 million for Gerrit Cole (from the Yankees)
- $245 million for Anthony Rendon (from the Angels)
When you factor in agency fees, these earnings equate to a $40.7 million "cut" for Scott Boras. This paints a clear picture of how much the agent is capable of earning in a one-week period.
Notable Clients and Transactions
- Alex Rodriguez
– 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers (2000)
– 10-year, $275 million extension with the New York Yankees (2007)
- Bryce Harper
– 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies (2019)
- Max Scherzer
– 7-year, $210 million deal with the Washington Nationals (2015)
– 3-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets (2021)
- Stephen Strasburg
– 7-year, $245 million extension with the Washington Nationals (2019)
- Gerrit Cole
– 9-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees (2019)
- Corey Seager
– 10-year, $325 million contract with the Texas Rangers (2021)
- Anthony Rendon
– 7-year, $245 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels (2019)
- Carlos Correa
– 6-year, $200 million contract with the Minnesota Twins (2023)
- Juan Soto
– Represented during multiple extension negotiations; declined $440 million offer from Nationals in 2022, later traded to Padres
Early Life
Scott Boras came from humble beginnings. He was born the son of a dairy farmer on November 2nd, 1952. Born and raised in Sacramento, he eventually attended the University of the Pacific, where he played college baseball. Much of Scott Boras' personal and family life is unknown. He hasn't shared much information about life before college, and whether or not he has any siblings.
As an excellent player with a batting ratio of .312 in 1972, he set numerous records and was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame. He then played minor league baseball for four years and eventually made the Florida State League All-Star team. Knee issues shortened his career, although his time playing baseball undoubtedly prepared him for a career as an agent in later life.
He went into law after his baseball career, obtaining a Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law in 1982. He would later assist in defending major pharmaceutical companies against lawsuits.
(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Career
Even before Boras had earned his degree, he had dabbled in representing major athletes. With an education in law, he was able to represent two players: Mike Fischlin of the Cleveland Indians and Bill Caudill of the Seattle Mariners. By the early 80s, Boras had targeted baseball as his chosen career path. By 1983, he had negotiated what was one of the largest contracts at the time for Caudill, helping him sign a $7.5 million deal.
After Boras' initial success, he became synonymous with the Boras Corporation. Creating a sports agency allowed him to further his initial gains, representing more clients and feeding his reputation as a tough negotiator who could help players earn even more.
In the 80s, Boras managed to negotiate record-breaking signing bonuses for the players he represented continuously. In 1990, he negotiated a $1.2 million contract for a high school pitcher, Todd Van Poppel. In 1991, he secured a $1.5 million signing bonus for another high school up-and-comer, Brien Taylor. In 1992, the Atlanta Braves agreed upon a $28 million contract put forth by Boras for Greg Maddux. The contract broke various records.
In 1996, the agent began to use loopholes in the rules of Major League Baseball to his advantage. Using one of these loopholes, he managed to remove Matt White and Bobby Seay from the draft process, allowing them to obtain contracts that were significantly more valuable. This prompted Major League Baseball to change its rules. It wouldn't be the first time the organization adjusted its guidelines as a result of Boras' actions.
In 1997, he exploited another obscure provision to have J.D. Drew exit the MLB, sign for the St. Paul Saints, and then re-enter the draft to sign for the Cardinals for an inflated fee. The MLB changed its rules to remove this loophole once again.
Not long afterward, Boras negotiated a deal for Greg Maddux that made him the highest-paid player in the game, breaking the $50 million barrier in the process. Just one year later, he doubled his earlier achievement, negotiating a $100 million contract. Over the next years, the agent would continue to break his own records. One of his most notable achievements was a $252 million contract for Alex Rodriguez. In 2019, he negotiated a $330 million contract for Bryce Harper. In the same year, he set up a $324 million deal for Gerrit Cole.
There are many other notable examples of Boras' considerable skills as a negotiator. In many cases, his deals defy logic – especially when he's representing players that have seemingly low market value, such as those who are injured, aging, or extremely new to the game.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Subsidiary Companies
The Boras Corporation has a number of subsidiary companies that also generate income for Scott Boras. These include Boras Marketing and the Boras Training Institute. Boras employs a number of extremely qualified individuals, including an MIT-trained economist, an investment team, and sports psychologists. Scott Boras also sends scouts all over the globe to look for new talent.
Criticism
Scott Boras has been the subject of considerable criticism over the years. As a sports agent, his main priority is helping his clients make money. These goals often put him at odds with the perceived "morals" of baseball, as well as the performance and well-being of various teams. Fans and baseball officials have often attacked Boras for putting money first.
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Personal Life
Scott Boras has been married to Jeanette Biewers since June 29, 1985. The couple met in 1982 at John Wayne Airport in California. They have three children: Shane, Natalie, and Trent. Shane is an MLBPA-certified agent working at the Boras Corporation. Natalie pursued psychology and modeling, while Trent played college baseball and is studying law. The family resides in Newport Beach, California.
Real Estate
Scott and Jeanette moved to Newport Beach, California, in 1986, drawn by its proximity to multiple MLB franchises, including the Angels, Dodgers, Padres, Giants and A's. His agency, the Boras Corporation, operates out of a 23,000-square-foot glass-and-steel headquarters in Newport Beach.
In 2020, Boras purchased a 4,700-square-foot home in Newport Beach's Cliffhaven neighborhood for $3.925 million. The two-story residence features four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a billiard room, dual-island kitchen, indoor-outdoor lounge, and a backyard with a pool, fireplace, and herb garden.
Previously, Boras owned a contemporary home in Venice, Los Angeles, which he bought in 2017 for $3.18 million and sold in 2020 for $3.5 million. The 3,123-square-foot property included a saltwater pool and spa.
In 2013, he acquired a Mediterranean-style home in Newport Beach for $2.975 million, which he sold in 2019 for $2.9 million.
Beyond his real estate ventures, Boras is actively involved in the Newport Beach community. He co-owns local restaurants The Cannery and Louie's by the Bay and founded the Boras Baseball Classic, a premier high school baseball tournament held in California and Arizona.