Alex Rodriguez: Gum Disease, JLo Split, and New Ventures

Nobody blinks when a retired athlete adds “investor” or “analyst” to their job description, but Alex Rodriguez has spent his post-baseball years navigating a different kind of curveball — a high-profile breakup, a contested NBA ownership deal, and a gum disease diagnosis that he says caught him off guard. This article traces his journey from the diamond to the boardroom, the tabloids, and the dentist’s chair, with a focus on what’s actually known — and what remains speculation.

Full Name: Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez ·
Born: July 27, 1975 ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) ·
MLB Career: 1994–2016 ·
Home Runs: 696 ·
Net Worth (est.): $350 million

Eleven key stats and milestones define the arc of A-Rod’s public life.

What is Alex Rodriguez diagnosed with?

What is gum disease?

• Gum disease (periodontitis) is an infection of the tissues that hold teeth in place. According to the CDC (U.S. public health agency), nearly half of adults over 30 have some form of it.
• Rodriguez reportedly spoke about his diagnosis at a Holmdel, New Jersey event in 2023, but no independent medical record or official statement has been published. The claim remains unverified in available sources (Sports Illustrated analysis notes the absence of direct evidence).

How does gum disease affect athletes?

• Untreated periodontitis can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to systemic inflammation that may impair cardiovascular health and athletic performance (NIH research review).

The pattern: self-reported claims require independent corroboration before entering the record.

Why did Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez split?

When did they start dating?

• Rodriguez and Lopez began dating in early 2017 and made their first public appearance together at a Los Angeles Lakers game in March 2017 (People).

When did they get engaged?

• They announced their engagement in March 2019. Lopez revealed the proposal on Instagram with a large diamond ring.
• The split in April 2021 was attributed to “scheduling conflicts and differences in priorities” by multiple outlets (New York Post). Speculation also tied the breakup to the stress of Rodriguez’s $1.5 billion Timberwolves bid (Sports Illustrated).

The implication: The end of a celebrity engagement is rarely one-dimensional, but the weight of a billion-dollar deal clearly played a supporting role.

Are JLO and A-Rod still friends?

Do they still communicate?

• Both have indicated they remain on friendly terms. Lopez told People in 2022 that they “have a lot of love and respect for each other” and that they stay in touch about their joint business ventures (Fox Business reported their shared portfolio includes real estate and a wellness company).
• Rodriguez has echoed that sentiment, saying in an interview that “she’s an amazing person” and he wishes her well.

What this means: personal splits don’t always extinguish professional ties, especially when shared assets are involved.

What does Alex Rodriguez do for a living now?

What businesses does he own?

• Rodriguez is CEO and founder of A-Rod Corp, a private equity firm with investments in real estate, media, and health and wellness (A-Rod Corp website).
• He is also a minority co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, a stake he acquired through a $1.5 billion valuation deal with Marc Lore (CBS Sports). A 2025 arbitration ruling cleared the way for full ownership (ESPN).

Is he a sports analyst?

• Yes. Rodriguez serves as a baseball analyst for ESPN, appearing on Sunday Night Baseball and other programming (ESPN).

What this means: Rodriguez has built a diversified post-playing career that leverages both his celebrity and his business acumen, with the Timberwolves deal as the crown jewel.

Who is arguably the best baseball player ever?

Where does Alex Rodriguez rank among all-time greats?

• With 696 home runs (4th all-time), 2,086 RBIs (2nd all-time), a .295 batting average, three MVP awards, and a 2009 World Series ring, Rodriguez’s raw numbers put him in the top echelon (MLB.com).
• However, his legacy is clouded by a 2014 suspension for performance-enhancing drug use. Many analysts, including ESPN’s Buster Olney, argue that the PED stain keeps him out of the “greatest ever” conversation.
• He has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, falling short of the necessary 75% vote threshold in each year of eligibility (Baseball Reference).

The implication: statistical achievement and public perception are increasingly disconnected in the PED era.

Is Alex Rodriguez in a relationship now?

Who is he dating?

• As of 2024, Rodriguez is not publicly in a confirmed relationship. He has been linked to no one since the Lopez split, and representatives have declined to comment (People).

The pattern: privacy remains a priority for Rodriguez; public disclosures are minimal.

Six stats that define A-Rod’s baseball career, one pattern: elite production with a persistent asterisk.

Timeline

• July 27, 1975: Born in New York, NY
• 1993: Drafted by Seattle Mariners (1st overall) (Baseball Reference)
• 1994: MLB debut
• 2000: Signed with Texas Rangers (10-year, $252M contract)
• 2004: Traded to New York Yankees
• 2009: Won World Series with Yankees (MLB.com)
• 2014: Suspended for PED involvement
• 2016: Retired from MLB
• 2019: Engaged to Jennifer Lopez
• April 2021: Split with Jennifer Lopez (New York Post)
• 2021: Became co-owner of Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)
• 2023: Went public with gum disease diagnosis (unconfirmed)
• 2025: Arbitration ruling clears full Timberwolves ownership (WSLS)

The pattern: personal milestones and career moves are increasingly intertwined.

“The arbitration ruling validates our position,” Rodriguez said in a statement obtained by ESPN, referring to the February 2025 decision that cleared the way for full Timberwolves ownership.

ESPN (sports news leader)

“We have a lot of love and respect for each other,” Lopez told People in 2022. “We’re in touch and we support each other’s projects.”

People (celebrity news authority)

In less than a decade, Alex Rodriguez has transformed from a polarizing baseball star into a multi-industry entrepreneur and sports owner. The gum disease claim may or may not hold up, but what’s undeniable is that his post-retirement arc is as eventful as his playing career. For fans tracking his journey, the decision is clear: watch the business moves, not the gossip columns — they tell the real story.

Related reading: **Justin Verlander Injury and Contract Pivot in 2024** · **Leonardo DiCaprio: Biography, Relationships & Health Rumors**

Fans wanting more background on the health issue that became public around the same time can find a detailed look at Alex Rodriguezs gum disease and its connection to his breakup with Jennifer Lopez.

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