Born Joseph Paul DiMaggio on the 25th November 1914 in Martinez, California USA, he was a professional baseball player, who played for the New York Yankees in the MLB. His career was active from 1936 until 1951, but was on hold during the Second World War. He passed away in March 1999.
Have you ever wondered how rich Joe DiMaggio was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it was estimated that Joe DiMaggio`s net worth was as high as $50 million, an amount he acquired through his successful career in baseball. After his retirement, thanks to his popularity Joe landed numerous advertising deals, which also increased his net worth.
Joe DiMaggio Net Worth $50 Million
Of Italian descent, born to Sicilian parents who immigrated to USA, with numerous other families, he was one of nine children to Giuseppe and Rosalia. Joe grew up in San Francisco, as his family moved there when he was still a toddler.
Joe`s father was a fisherman, and hoped that Joe and his other sons would follow him; well, some of them did, but Joe had different plans, as he despised fishing from an early age, and turned to baseball instead in the 1930s. His amateur career began when he joined the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, with the help of his older brother Vince DiMaggio, who was already on the team. Joe played in position of shortstop, however, from 27th May to 25th June 1993, he had hit safely in 61 consecutive games, which became a PCL record.
The following season DiMaggio injured his knee, which was a threat to his career, however, he managed to recover, and soon he was bought by the New York Yankees for $50,000 and five other players. However, he played a season more in the PCL, winning the 1935 PCL title, and being named the league`s MVP.
He played his first game for the Yankees on the 3rd May 1936 and then continuously until 1951, aside from three years in the US Army Air Force from 1943 until 1945, and was discharged as a sergeant.
During his baseball career, Joe was a part of nine World Series-winning teams, from 1936 until 1939 consecutively, then in 1941, 1947, and again from 1949 until 1951. He retired after a poor 1951 season, in which he battled many injuries. Nevertheless, he became the highest paid baseball player at that time, when in 1949 he signed a contract worth $100,000, and $70,000 in bonuses. This increased his net worth by a large margin.
Thanks to his great overall performances, Joe received several prestigious awards; AL MVP three times, AL batting champion two times, AL home run leader twice, and AL RBI Leader also twice. Furthermore, he set the record for most games with a hitting streak at 56 games.
His jersey #5 was retired by the Yankees, and he was selected into the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. As the peak of his career, Joe was inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
After retirement, thanks to his popularity Joe became spokesman for the ‘Mr.Coffee’ company, and was the face on the electric coffee makers for over two decades. His net worth increased further when he became spokesman for the Bowery Savings Bank, and was in that position until 1982.
Regarding his personal life, Joe has been recognized for his relationship with Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe; the two married in 1954, but just nine months after the wedding, Marilyn filed for divorce, stating mental cruelty as the reason. However, Joe tried to re-enter her life, and was responsible for her release from Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in 1961, but the following year, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her apartment. After her funeral, DiMaggio started sending half-a-dozen roses to her grave, three times a week.
Before Marilyn, Joe was married to actress Dorothy Arnold, from 1939 until 1944; the couple had one child.
Joe died on the 19th January 1999, from lung cancer; he was a smoker for the major part of his life, and in 1998 he was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died in Hollywood, Florida.
