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Wayne Gretzky

$250 Million
Former NHL Player, Hockey Coach, Businessman

Quick Facts

Full Name Wayne Douglas Gretzky
Net Worth $250 Million
Profession Former NHL Player, Hockey Coach, Businessman
Date of Birth January 26, 1961
Nationality Canadian-American
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lbs (84 kg)
Spouse/Partner Janet Jones (m. 1988)
Children 5 (Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Emma, Tristan)

Biography

Wayne Gretzky’s net worth is $250 Million, accumulated through an unparalleled 20-season NHL career, extensive post-retirement business ventures spanning wineries, restaurants, and coaching, and decades of lucrative endorsement deals. Gretzky holds virtually every significant scoring record in NHL history and is widely regarded as the greatest ice hockey player of all time.

Updated March 2026: According to ESPN and sports business reporting, Gretzky’s net worth is estimated at $250 million, reflecting the combined value of his NHL career earnings, business holdings, and investment portfolio built over more than four decades.

Early Life and Education

Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, to Walter and Phyllis Gretzky. His father, Walter, famously flooded the family’s backyard each winter to create a skating rink, where young Wayne spent thousands of hours developing his game. Gretzky was playing organized hockey by age six and was so dominant against his age-group peers that he was placed in older age categories by age ten. By age fourteen he had scored 378 goals in a single season of peewee hockey. He attended West Humber Collegiate Institute in Toronto and briefly attended Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton before his professional career made conventional schooling impractical. He never pursued post-secondary education, turning professional at age 17.

Hockey Career

Gretzky turned professional at 17 when he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1978, earning a reported $875,000 over four years. Within months he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. When the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, Gretzky began his official NHL career with the Oilers, quickly establishing dominance that was without parallel in professional sports. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) nine times — more than any other player — and led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup championships (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988).

In 1988, in one of the most controversial trades in sports history, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal that included $15 million in cash changing hands from owner Bruce McNall to Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington. Gretzky’s eight seasons with the Kings (1988–1996) transformed hockey’s popularity in California and across non-traditional American markets. He led Los Angeles to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals before brief stints with the St. Louis Blues (1996) and the New York Rangers (1996–1999), with whom he played his final three NHL seasons. He retired on April 18, 1999, holding 61 NHL records, including all-time records for goals (894), assists (1,963), and total points (2,857). His assists total alone exceeds the total points of any other player in NHL history, according to ESPN career statistics. He was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999 — the mandatory three-year waiting period was waived — and his jersey number 99 was retired league-wide by the NHL, the only number in league history to receive that honor.

His final NHL salary was $6 million per season with the New York Rangers (1997–98 and 1998–99). Per Spotrac, his final two-year contract with the Rangers totaled $13 million at $6.5 million average annual value. Career NHL earnings are estimated at over $46 million in salary alone.

In 2000, Gretzky became part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, and following the 2004–05 NHL lockout he served as the team’s head coach from 2005 to 2009, compiling a 143–161–25 regular-season record. He stepped down in September 2009.

How Wayne Gretzky Built His $250 Million Fortune

  • NHL career salary: Over 20 professional seasons, Gretzky earned an estimated $46 million in salary. His per-season compensation escalated from under $400,000 in his early Oilers seasons to $6.5 million with the Rangers, per Spotrac records.
  • Endorsements: During his playing career, Gretzky earned tens of millions from endorsement partners including Nike, Upper Deck, McDonald’s, and others. His personal brand commanded premium rates as the sport’s dominant figure.
  • Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery: Gretzky is a co-owner of Wayne Gretzky Estates, a 23,000-square-foot combined winery and distillery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, opened in 2017, with an additional Okanagan, British Columbia operation. The winery is one of the most-visited in Canada, per Wine Country Ontario.
  • Restaurant and hospitality interests: Gretzky co-founded the Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant brand, with locations in Toronto and other Canadian cities, and was part of the Official All Star Café chain in the 1990s alongside other sports celebrities.
  • Real estate: The Gretzky family has owned high-value properties including a Dustin Johnson-sold North Palm Beach home purchased for $4.5 million in 2022. Earlier, the Gretzky family listed a property for $22.9 million in 2020.
  • Phoenix Coyotes ownership stake: Gretzky held a minority ownership interest in the Phoenix Coyotes from 2000. The financial terms of his eventual exit from the franchise have not been fully disclosed publicly.

Personal Life

Gretzky married actress Janet Jones on July 16, 1988, in a ceremony in Edmonton that was broadcast nationally in Canada and attended by over 700 guests — the event was widely described as “Canada’s Royal Wedding.” The couple has five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Emma, and Tristan. Paulina Gretzky, the eldest, became a model and social media personality and was previously engaged to PGA Tour golfer Dustin Johnson. Trevor Gretzky played professional baseball as an outfielder in the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels organizations. The Gretzky family is based in the Los Angeles area. Gretzky holds both Canadian and American citizenship. He received the Order of Canada in 1984, one of the country’s highest civilian honors, and was awarded the Silver Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee in 2002 following Canada’s gold-medal performance at the Salt Lake City Winter Games, where he served as executive director of the Canadian hockey team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wayne Gretzky’s net worth?

Wayne Gretzky’s net worth is estimated at $250 million, built through his 20-season NHL playing career (estimated $46 million in salary per Spotrac), major endorsement contracts, his Wayne Gretzky Estates winery and distillery, restaurant holdings, and real estate investments accumulated since his 1979 NHL debut.

How many NHL records does Wayne Gretzky hold?

At the time of his retirement in 1999, Gretzky held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and six All-Star records. His most remarkable statistical achievement: his assists total of 1,963 exceeds the total career points — goals plus assists — of every other player in NHL history. He is the only player to score 200 or more points in a single season, a feat he accomplished four times.

Who is Wayne Gretzky married to?

Wayne Gretzky has been married to actress Janet Jones since July 16, 1988. Together they have five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Emma, and Tristan. The family is based primarily in the Los Angeles area.

How Old Is Wayne Gretzky?

As of March 2026, Wayne Gretzky is 65 years old. Wayne Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

How Tall Is Wayne Gretzky?

Wayne Gretzky stands 6 ft 0 in tall (183 cm).

Who Is Wayne Gretzky’s Wife?

Wayne Gretzky has been married to actress Janet Jones since 1988. Their wedding was dubbed “The Royal Wedding of Canada” and was broadcast live on Canadian television. They have five children together, including Paulina Gretzky.

Does Wayne Gretzky Have Kids?

Yes, Wayne Gretzky has five children with wife Janet Jones: Paulina Gretzky (37), Ty (35), Trevor (33), Tristan (25), and Emma (22). Paulina has become a social media personality, and Trevor played professional baseball.

Where Does Wayne Gretzky Live?

Wayne Gretzky lives in Jupiter, Florida. He purchased his home for $4.5 million in 2022 after previously living in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.

How Much Does Wayne Gretzky Make Per Year?

Wayne Gretzky earned approximately $46 million in career NHL salary. His landmark $25 million, 10-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 was groundbreaking for the sport at the time.