With his decorated career in the MLB, Esteban Loaiza’s net worth in 2018 is estimated at $20.0 million. But outside the diamond, he had a streak of legal troubles. Could Loaiza’s recent arrest impact his net worth? Find out here!
Former All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza was arrested on drug charges on February 9, 2018. This is his most recent run-in with the law after a slew of legal troubles over the years.
The latest estimates put Loaiza’s net worth in 2018 at $20.0 million. But some believe the numbers should be higher given his spectacular MLB career and lucrative contracts. So, did his legal history dent his career earnings?
Here’s a breakdown of Esteban Loaiza’s net worth.
How Esteban Loaiza Made His Millions
- Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna was born on December 31, 1971, in Tijuana, Mexico.
- After graduating from a high school in Imperial Beach, California, Loaiza was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1991.
- The Pirates traded Loaiza to the Texas Rangers in 1998; the Rangers then traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000.
- Loaiza signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent in the 2003 season and was an All-Star selection in 2003 and 2004.
- After his All-Star game, Loaiza was traded to the New York Yankees but then signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals in 2004.
- Before the 2006 season started, he signed with Oakland Athletics; the three-year contract was worth $21.4 million, and he earned guaranteed yearly salaries of $5.0 million, $6.0 million, and $7.0 million for the duration of the contract.
- Loaiza’s Oakland career was marred by poor performance and injuries; he spent a lot of time on the disabled list until August 2007.
- The LA Dodgers acquired him off the Oakland waivers in 2007; instead of trading him, the Dodgers purchased the remainder of Esteban Loaiza’s contract.
- Esteban Loaiza’s salary with the LA Dodgers was bumped up to $8.0 million.
- The Chicago White Sox signed him in 2008 but after six weeks on the disabled list, he was released.
- Esteban Loaiza’s career earnings are estimated at $43.7 million.
The following table illustrates his salaries during his MLB career:
| Team | Season | Salary |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1995 | $109,000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1996 | $150,000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1997 | $200,000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1998 | $450,000 |
| Texas Rangers | 1999 | $1.48 million |
| Texas Rangers | 2000 | $2.65 million |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 2001 | $4.25 million |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 2002 | $6.0 million |
| Chicago White Sox | 2003 | $500,000 |
| Chicago White Sox | 2004 | $4.0 million |
| Washington Nationals | 2005 | $2.9 million |
| Oakland Athletics | 2006 | $6.0 million |
| Oakland Athletics | 2007 | $7.5 million |
| LA Dodgers | 2008 | $7.5 million |
Esteban Loaiza’s Divorce and Legal Troubles
- Esteban Loaiza was pulled over by police in 2006 for driving his Ferrari at 120 mph; he subsequently failed a sobriety test and appeared in court in 2006.
- After this incident, Oakland GM Billy Beane banned alcohol in the home and visitor clubhouse.
- Loaiza was married to Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera in 2010; it was his first marriage and her third.
- The couple were headed for a divorce in 2012 and filed the papers in October that year; but Rivera died in a plane crash in December before their divorce could be finalized.
- Loaiza was her legal spouse at the time of the fatal plane crash; he was entitled to a share of her estate valued at $25.0 million (if no prenup was signed).
- The MLB star filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aircraft company in 2014; Rivera’s family accused him of attempting to profit from her death.
- Loaiza was charged with three drug-related felonies; he was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking when he was stopped for a minor traffic violation.
- A search of Esteban Loaiza’s house in Imperial Beach uncovered roughly 20 kilograms of white substance believed to be cocaine; the estimated street value is $500,000.
- Esteban Loaiza is being held on $200,000 bail pending his court appearance on February 14.