The old-model phone of Tanaka Mamiko, wife of baseball player Ohtani Shohei (31, LA Dodgers), the "$700 million (1 trillion won) man," drew attention.
The Ohtani couple appeared at a car parade in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 3 (local time) celebrating the LA Dodgers' back-to-back World Series titles.
The two smiled and waved to fans from the open deck of a double-decker bus. They took photos of each other and enjoyed their time, and Tanaka's phone, captured in the process, caught the eye. It was an iPhone 13 mini released four years ago, not a latest-model phone.
It spread quickly through online communities and social media (SNS). Netizens reacted by saying, "Why is the wife of the $700 million man using an old iPhone," "Truly wealthy people have no need to show off," and "There was even a moment when Tanaka was spotted carrying a $30 bag."
Ohtani is one of the most "expensive" players on the planet. In Dec. 2023, he signed a 10-year deal with the Dodgers worth an aggregates of $700 million (about 1.00123 trillion won), breaking the record for the largest single contract in global sports history. According to Sportico, a U.S. sports business outlet, Ohtani earned $70 million (about 101.2 billion won) last year from advertising and sponsorships alone.
As Ohtani's wife's frugal image became a hot topic, attention also turned to Ohtani's family, who continue to live frugally despite Ohtani's "1 trillion won price tag."
In 2023, the Japanese weekly "Josei Seven" said, "Ohtani's admirable character is thanks to his mother, Kayoko, and his family," and reported on the Ohtani family's frugal lifestyle and their values.
The Ohtani couple surprised the public by marrying in Mar. last year. When Ohtani, who had never had a single dating rumor, suddenly announced his marriage, global attention focused on the identity of his long-hidden wife. Ohtani accompanied his wife to the MLB "Seoul Series" held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome on Mar. 20–21 that year, revealing her face and name for the first time.
Ohtani's wife Tanaka watched the 2024 MLB Seoul Series special game between the Korea national baseball team and the LA Dodgers in Korea in Mar. last year with family members including mother-in-law Kayoko. The Ohtani family also drew attention that day by sitting in the regular stands on the first-base side to watch the game.