Here's Why Yankees' Gerrit Cole Drives A 16-Year-Old Car Despite His Huge Contract

Gerrit Cole is a professional baseball player who is currently the pitcher for the New York Yankees. The superstar signed a nine-year contract with his team in 2019 worth $324 million, giving him an average annual salary of $36 million. Despite his lucrative earnings, Cole still drives his nearly 16-year-old car, a 2006 Toyota Tacoma.

The pitcher currently has an estimated net worth of $50 million, the majority of which comes from his lucrative deal with the Yankees. Cole’s contract with his team is the fourth-largest contract in the history of Major League Baseball, as per Celebrity Net Worth.

Cole’s 10-year career in the MLB has earned him a total of more than $75 million in contract salary alone. While the majority of his wealth came from his huge contract with the Yankees, he also earned over $13 million in 2019 and 2020. The pitcher received more than $5 million for five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and over $20 million for two seasons with the Houston Astros, as per Spotrac.

Despite his massive fortune, Cole still drives his very first car, which has already gotten about 82,000 miles. “It works, first of all. Super reliable. This isn’t a Toyota commercial, but, man, I really haven’t had any issues with it. I’m not here a whole lot. So when we go to the beach or when we lug around Christmas presents or things like that, it comes in handy,” Cole said in an interview with NJ News.

The baseball player’s car was gifted to him by his father, Mark, when he was still living in Newport Beach. The athlete’s father bought the Toyota Tacoma 18 months prior and used it for a while before giving it to his son. The MLB pitcher drove the vehicle throughout high school and while he was at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Last year, Cole and his wife Amy moved into their new mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut that they bought for $5.6 million. The massive home sits on two acres of land and is equipped with five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms. The property features a gourmet kitchen with a large center island and a breakfast nook. The home also has a fireplace that is situated under a coffered ceiling, Sports Illustrated reported.