No one would have blamed Wayne Gretzky if he had spent his post-retirement life doing nothing. He certainly earned it — he left the NHL as probably its greatest player of all-time, winning multiple championships and MVP awards following a legendary career. But a competitor such as Gretzky couldn’t stand pat for long — he’s had an active, successful career after hanging up his skates.
Gretzky’s success extends well beyond the ice, however. While he’s been active in hockey, he’s also had plenty of profitable business ventures as well. Here’s how Wayne Gretzky used his impressive NHL earnings to build a business empire.
The great career of Wayne Gretzky
There’s a reason they call Wayne Gretzky “The Great One.” A 15-time NHL All-Star, Gretzky’s professional career began at the age of 17 with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA. Gretzky only spent 25 games there — the team soon ended operations and his contract was sold to the Edmonton Oilers.
That’s where he made history. Gretzky and the Oilers went on one of the most dominant runs in hockey history. He led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories alongside fellow superstars Mark Messier and Grant Fuhr.
Gretzky set multiple scoring records in Edmonton before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. In a town of many stars, Gretzky’s star shined as bright as any. It was during his time in LA that he’d pass Gordie Howe’s all-time point and goal-scoring records.
Gretzky had a brief tenure with the St. Louis Blues before closing his career out with the New York Rangers in 1999. Gretzky received the honor of being the only NHL player who had his number retired by every team — no one will ever again wear his signature 99.
The website CelebrityNetWorth.com estimates Gretzky’s net worth at $250 million. Gretzky scored some large contracts during hisplaying days — certainly not a small number, but only a fraction of what he’d make had he played in this era of even larger contracts. Following his 1999 retirement, Gretzky stayed active in hockey.
Gretzky moved from the ice to the office with a role as the executive director of the Canadian national men’s hockey team prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also bought a 10% stake in the Phoenix Coyotes in 2000. He coached the team from 2005-2009. In 2016, he re-joined his former team in Edmonton as a vice-chairman and partner of the Oilers Entertainment Group.
So how else has Gretzky amassed his considerable fortune?
Other business ventures
Throughout his NHL career and after it, Gretzky has been a major investor in sports teams. Along with being a minority owner of the Coyotes, Gretzky purchased a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team the Hull Olympiques in 1985, selling them in 1992 for a nearly $400,000 profit.
Gretzky also became a minority owner of the Toronto Argonauts in 1980 alongside legendary Canadian comedian and actor John Candy. Gretzky is also a partner with First Team Sports, a sports equipment manufacturer.
It should come as no shock that Gretzky landed plenty of endorsem*nts throughout his career. He was sponsored by top brands such as Domino’s Pizza and Coca-Cola. More recently, Gretzky opened a winery called Wayne Gretzky Estates in Ontario. He also owns multiple restaurants.
There’s no question that Gretzky’s on-ice intelligence is a part of what made him one of the game’s legends. But it’s clear from his shrewd business moves, both during and after his hockey career, that Gretzky has far more than his hockey ability to fall back on.
Gretzky's strategic positioning on the ice epitomizes the importance of being in the right place at the right time. His keen understanding of the game's dynamics allowed him to exploit opportunities effectively and create goal-scoring chances.
Apart from his ownership involvement with hockey teams, Wayne Gretzky has been involved in various business ventures. One of his most notable ventures is the Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery, co-founded with Andrew Peller Limited. The winery, located in Ontario, Canada, offers a range of red and white wines.
All of Wayne Gretzky's success, endorsem*nt deals, and business ventures, including co-owning a restaurant and a successful sports equipment line, have netted him a sizable fortune of $250 million. Wayne Gretzky earned a total of $46 million out of his NHL salary during his career.
Gretzky is the leading career goal scorer, assist producer and point scorer in NHL history, and has more career assists than any other player has total points. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times.
Gretzky didn't chas the puck, he anticipated. People wanted to hit Gretzky, but his crisp, lethal passes made getting too close a threat. Gretzky also possessed a deadly, accurate shot. Quick release and perfect timing don't come close to describing Wayne's goal production.
Wayne Gretzky (born January 26, 1961, Brantford, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian ice hockey player who was considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Some of the wealthiest NHL team owners include David Thomson , who owns the Winnipeg Jets and has a net worth of over $ 41 billion , and Philip Anschutz , who owns the Los Angeles Kings and has a net worth of over $ 12 billion .
Wayne Gretzky's (Toronto, ON) and Gretzky's Wine & Whiskey (Edmonton, AB) Located near the Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky's restaurant and bar is a sports fan's dream.
A winery and distillery, Wayne Gretzky Estates was founded in 2017 through a partnership between Andrew Peller Ltd. And Wayne Gretzky and is located on the Niagara Peninsula.
Gretzky Rule: In the Silver League, a player may not score more than three (3) goals in any game. If a fourth goal is scored by the same individual, it will not count. Instead, there will be a whistle and face-off in the offensive zone.
Gretzky decided that two nines were better than none, and despite being on plenty of teams that would gladly give up the number nine for him, he kept those two nines on the back of his jersey for the rest of his career.
Wayne Gretzky's retirement in 1999 marked the end of an extraordinary career that transcended the sport of hockey. His decision to retire was influenced by a combination of factors, including age, pursuit of other opportunities, and personal considerations.
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC, hockey player, coach, entrepreneur (born 26 January 1961 in Brantford, ON). Gretzky is regarded by many as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Gretzky has remained involved in hockey management and coaching, but is also a humanitarian. He started the Wayne Gretzky Foundation in 2002, and since 1995 has been helping to raise funds for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
In addition to the NHL, and his considerable charity work, he has made Canadians proud on the world stage – particularly as Executive Director of Team Canada for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Additionally, Gretzky is part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes.
A significant part of Gretzky's appeal was the childlike joy he took in the game. He loved the company of his teammates, the goofing around in practice and, above all, the competition. Gretzky finished with 1,072 goals as a professional, one more than Howe.
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