Jonathan Tyler Lester was born on 7 January 1984, in Tacoma, Washington State USA, and is a professional baseball player, best known for playing as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), for the Chicago Cubs; he previously played for the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Jon Lester? As of mid-2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $50 million, mostly earned through success in professional baseball. He reportedly earns $34 million a year thanks to his high valued contracts. He’s won three World Series in the course of his career and as he continues it, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Jon Lester Net Worth $50 million
Jon attended Bellarmine Preparatory School, and during his time there played for the school’s baseball team. He was a three time MVP and was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Washington in 2000.
Lester joined the 2002 MLB Draft and was selected by the Boston Red Sox. The team gave him a bonus which was the highest of any second round pick that year at $1 million, kicking-off his net worth significantly. He quickly moved through the Red Sox, setting an 11-7 win loss record as part of the Portland Sea Dogs of the Class AA Eastern league, and so named Eastern League Pitcher and Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2005. He was one of team’s top rated prospect in the minors, and other teams made unsuccessful efforts to acquire him. In 2006, he was called up due to injuries and ineffectiveness of other Red Sox starters, and achieved a 7-2 record during his rookie year, however, he encountered a setback when he was diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes, and was later diagnosed to have a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma. He underwent off season chemotherapy treatment and the disease went into remission.
Jon returned to the Red Sox midway into the 2007 season, and first played back in the minors. He then returned to the majors and would eventually help the team win the World Series against the Colorado Rockies. He became just the third pitcher in World Series history to win a series- clinching game in his first post-season start. He won the Tony Conigliaro Award thanks to his comeback from lymphoma. He followed up his success with the 18th no hitter in Red Sox history in 2008, and went 16-6 during the season, and would win the Hutch Award given to the MLB player who “best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Hutchinson”. He was given a five-year contract extension by the Red Sox in 2009 for $30 million, with an additional $14 million team option in 2014. He actually started the season poorly, but then bounced back going 15-8 during the season.
In 2010, Lester was selected for the American League All-Star team. He went through the season strongly, and finished fourth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. The following season was another solid one, although he also struggled in a few games, but finished with a 15-9 record, but then had a disappointing 2012, going 9-14, but bounced back in 2013 and helped the team win the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers, and then helped the Red Sox win the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2014, he appeared in his third all-star game, but was then traded to the Oakland Athletics. He had a 16-11 record that season, and after his contract ended, signed with the Chicago Cubs for a $155 million deal, boosting his net worth to a high point. He struggled during his first season with the Cubs but eventually helped the team win the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians – their first for 108 years – being named Co-MVP of the NLCS.
For his personal life, it is known that Jon married Farrah Stone Johnson in 2009, and they have three children. He also does charity work and is an avid hunter, as well as being a wine aficionado.
