Wayne Gretzky Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Wayne Gretzky’s Net Worth?

A retired professional hockey player and entrepreneur, Wayne Gretzky hails from Canada and boasts a net worth of $250 million. In the realm of sports, the title of “greatest” often sparks debate and varies by opinion. Each new sports season brings forth a new contender for this title. Yet, only a select few athletes have utterly dominated their sport for a significant period, earning the title of truly “greatest.” Icons like Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Kelly Slater, and Nadia Comaneci are among those who have reshaped the limits of what can be achieved in their respective sports. Wayne Gretzky stands out as that figure in hockey.

Hailing from Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Wayne began skating at just three years old and found himself playing hockey against ten-year-olds when he was merely six. His extraordinary skills led to a challenging environment back home, as regional fans would often boo him during games. To further his playing career, he relocated from his hometown. In 1978, Wayne joined the World Hockey Association, and when it disbanded, he transitioned to the NHL, representing teams such as the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and ultimately the New York Rangers. Over 21 years, he broke numerous records and earned multiple accolades, including becoming the highest point scorer in NHL history and the only player ever to net over 200 points in a single season (achieved four times). His trophy collection includes nine Hart Trophies (MVP), 10 Art Ross Trophies (Most Points), and two Conn Smythe Trophies (Playoff MVP), among various other honors. Post-retirement, he took on the role of executive director for the Canadian National Hockey Team, leading them to a Gold medal at the 2002 Olympics, and served as Head Coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. Furthermore, Wayne initiated a thriving entrepreneurial journey, which we will explore in detail later in this article. His various successes, endorsement agreements, and business endeavors, which include co-owning a restaurant and a prominent sports equipment line, have significantly contributed to his wealth.

Career Earnings

Throughout his NHL career, Wayne Gretzky accumulated $46 million in salary alone. Additionally, he secured $50 million from endorsements during his playing tenure. When adjusted for inflation, his earnings from both sources amount to approximately $150 million. He has made astute investments, constructing an empire that now comprises ownership in sports teams, a vineyard, real estate projects, and more.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on January 26, 1961, Wayne Douglas Gretzky grew up in Brantford, Ontario, as one of five siblings, with three brothers and a sister. His father, Walter, introduced him, his siblings, and their friends to hockey by creating a makeshift rink in their backyard, where Gretzky displayed an early gift for the game. By the age of six, he was competing alongside ten-year-olds, attracting attention for his exceptional abilities as he advanced. His on-ice success often drew ire from fellow players and envious parents, leading to instances of booing during games.

To enhance his opportunities and escape the negativity of his hometown, his parents facilitated his move to Toronto for hockey. Although players faced restrictions regarding competing in different areas, his parents contested the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and emerged victorious, allowing Wayne to participate in Junior B hockey with the Toronto Nationals. During the 1975-76 season, he earned the Rookie of the Year honor in the Metro Junior B Hockey League. Subsequently, he was drafted in 1977 into the Ontario Major Junior

At 16, he was selected in the Hockey League draft to play for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Professional Hockey Career

In 1978, at the young age of 17, Gretzky entered into a personal services contract worth $1.75 million USD over seven years with the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). Initially, he had to join the WHA rather than the NHL, as the NHL prohibited signing players younger than 20. Although his time with the Racers was short-lived, he was later traded to the Edmonton Oilers. Following the WHA’s dissolution in 1979, he played a crucial role in leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships after they joined the NHL.

During his first season in the NHL with the Oilers, Wayne was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player. His prominence grew, making him the first player in NHL history to surpass the 200-point mark in a single season, alongside numerous other accomplishments. He experienced two additional trades, playing for the Los Angeles Kings from 1988 to 1996 and for the St. Louis Blues in 1996. Eventually, in 1996, he signed a two-year, $8 million USD contract as a free agent with the New York Rangers.

Wayne concluded his professional career in 1999 with the New York Rangers. Throughout his tenure, he secured nine Hart Trophies for MVP, ten Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, five Lester B. Pearson Awards, and two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP. He was immediately enshrined in the NHL Hall of Fame upon retirement. By the end of his NHL career, he had set an astonishing 61 records. His #99 jersey was retired across the league, making him the only individual to receive such an honor at that time.

Post-Retirement Engagements

Following the conclusion of Gretzky’s playing days, he transitioned into a management position, taking on the role of executive director for the Canadian National Men’s Hockey Team for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Later, he became a co-owner of the NHL team Phoenix Coyotes, acquiring a 10% stake in May 2000 in collaboration with majority owner Steven Ellman. He eventually served as the team’s coach from October 2005 until September 2009. In 2016, he was appointed vice-chairman and partner of the Oilers Entertainment Group.

Business Ventures And Endorsements

Beyond his athletic career, Gretzky has made significant investments in sports team ownership. He purchased the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1985 for $175,000 CAD and sold the team in 1992 for $550,000 CAD. In 1991, when Bruce McNall acquired the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, Gretzky partnered as a minority owner alongside John Candy; they eventually disposed of the team in 1994. He collaborated again with McNall to acquire a rare Honus Wagner T206 cigarette card for $451,000 USD, which was later sold for a profit. Additionally, Gretzky is a stakeholder in the sports equipment company First Team Sports, and he operates roller hockey rinks through Worldwide Roller Hockey, Inc.

Moreover, during his professional career, Gretzky secured numerous lucrative endorsement deals.

Personal Life

While serving as a judge on the TV show “Dance Fever,” Gretzky met actress Janet Jones. They began their relationship in 1987; he proposed in January 1988, and they tied the knot that July. The Canadian press dubbed their wedding ceremony “The Royal Wedding,” as it reportedly exceeded $1 million USD in costs. The couple has five children together, comprising three sons and two daughters. Their son, Trevor, played minor league baseball. Among their daughters, Paulina Gretzky, a singer and model, has been in a relationship with professional golfer Dustin Johnson since 2013, with whom she has two children. The couple married in April 2022.

Real Estate

After moving to the LA Kings in the late 1980s, Wayne acquired a substantial property within the exclusive Beverly Hills gated community of Beverly Park. A few years later, he sold this house to billionaire Eric Smidt (not to be confused with Google billionaire Eric Schmidt). Smidt purchased the adjacent vacant lot for $3 million, later selling the combined estate for $40 million in 2014.

In 2007, Wayne and his wife designed a custom mansion within a gated country club in Thousand Oaks, California. This residence spans 10,815 square feet and features two guest houses, all on 6.5 acres in the highly sought-after Sherwood Country Club community. The mansion, fashioned by renowned architect Richard Landry with Wayne’s close collaboration, boasts hardwood floors, exquisite plaster detailing, a spacious layout, a modern kitchen, a home theater, an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven, and a pool. The main house contains six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms. Additionally, one guest house includes a complete gym, and a sunken tennis court is situated out back.

The Gretzkys sold the property in 2014 to former baseball player Lenny Dykstra, who was then promoting himself as a financial expert, for an astonishing $18.5 million.

However, just a year later, the real estate market, along with Lenny’s guru status, plummeted. He attempted to sell the house for the same $18.5 million during a notably unfavorable time to be on the market. After consistently lowering the price, he ultimately lost it through foreclosure following bankruptcy declarations and fraud charges. Bringing everything full circle, Wayne and Janet Gretzky reacquired the home in 2018 for $13.5 million.

In October 2020, the couple listed this sought-after property for sale at $22.9 million.

By 2022, Dustin Johnson, soon-to-be son-in-law, sold his North Palm Beach home in South Florida to the Gretzkys for $4.5 million.