Joe Superstar Has Just Signed a "Four-Year, $68-Million Deal" with the Toronto

Short Answer

Joe Superstar has just signed a "four-year, $68-million deal" with the Toronto Blue Jays. The terms of the contract include a signing bonus of $4.8 million and salaries of $10 million, $17.2 million, $17.5 million, and $18.5 million in successive years of the contract. The news media always ignore the time value of money when they report the "value" of professional athletes' contracts. What is the economic value of Joe's contract on the date it was signed? Assume that the signing bonus was paid on that date, that the annual salaries will be paid in lump amounts ½ year, 1 ½ years, 2 1/2 years, and 3 ½ years later, and that money is worth 5% compounded semi-annually. Round the answer to the nearest $1,000.