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Top 10 richest hockey players in the world and their net worths
Lenah Ann
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:26 PM
Well! Well! Well! By now, it is crystal clear that some of the wealthiest people in the world are athletes. With some owning the largest companies in the world, others purchase distinct properties like islands and even towns. But does NHL produce some of these personalities? Find out details about some of the top richest hockey players in the world as of 2023.
Source: Getty Images
Most hockey players have struggled to keep up with the Joneses financially. Far from it, before even the National Hockey League instituted a salary cap in 2005, players would demand vast sums of money, influencing their salaries at the end of the day. Today, most athletes have known their way around the corporate world, signing endorsement deals away from the pitch to get that extra coin into the bank.
Top 10 richest hockey players of all-time
Hockey is quite popular, especially in countries like Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. According to various online sources, SportsBrief has compiled a list of the richest hockey players in the world as of 2023. Keep in mind that not only are these athletes wealthy but also categorised among the greatest hockey players of all time.
10. Robert Blake - $60 million
Source: Getty Images
Robert Blake is a former hockey player who manages the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. He had quite a decorated career, winning Olympic and world championship gold medals and the Stanley Cup. Even though he is currently a retired player, he managed to amass a career income of around $74.8 million.
Position | Defenseman |
Team(s) | San Jose Sharks (2001 to 2006), Colorado Avalanche (1989 to 1991, 2006 to 2008), and Los Angeles Kings (2008 to 2010) |
Career earnings | $74.8 million |
Estimated net worth | $60 million |
9. Nicklas Lidstrom - $60 million
Source: Getty Images
To date, Nicklas Lidstrom is still regarded as hockey's top defenseman of all time. Having played with the Detroit Wings, he was part of four Stanley Cup victories in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008.
He got selected as the 53rd overall pick during the 1989 NHL draft and has since been regarded as the best defender in NHL history. As of 2023, Nicklas is vice president of hockey operations for the Detroit Red Wings.
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Position | Defenseman |
Team(s) | Detroit Red Wings (1987 to 2012) |
Career earnings | $42.5 million |
Estimated net worth | $60 million |
8. Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya - $64 million
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One common thing about most of the names you will encounter on the list is that they are retired hockey players, and Paul Tetsuhiko is no exception.
Based in Canada, Paul is a veteran and quick skater offensive athlete who played 15 seasons for the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and St Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.
Position | Winger |
Team(s) | Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and St Louis Blues (1995 to 2010) |
Career earnings | $82.6 million |
Estimated net worth | $65 million |
7. Joe Thornton - $65 million
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Joe Thornton's career at the NHL included the high-paying, pre-salary cap decades, which consequently landed him a sizeable sum as the Sharks' captain and public face in the middle of the 2000s and at the beginning of the 2010s. He even won the Hart Trophy in 2006 thanks to his efforts.
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Position | Centre |
Team(s) | San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers (1997–2005). (2021-present) |
Career earnings | $110 million |
Estimated net worth | $65 million |
6. Chris Pronger - $65 million
Source: Getty Images
Chris Pronger has a factual claim to being one of the greatest defensemen the NHL has ever seen. Most of his earnings came from his seven-year choice to play from the $34 million-worth contract he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Additionally, he earned his income from being one of the most physically dominant athletes in his era. He won the Hart Trophy in 2001, participated in the back-to-back Stanley Cup finals, and helped Anaheim win the trophy in 2007.
Position | Defenseman |
Team(s) | St Louis Blues (1995 to 2005), Hartford Whalers (1993 to 1995), Edmonton Oilers (2005 to 2006), Anaheim Ducks (2006 to 2009), and Philadelphia Flyers (2006 to 2009) |
Career earnings | $111.4 million |
Estimated net worth | $65 million |
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5. Joe Sakic - $65 million
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Joe Sakic's career was hugely spent before the National Hockey League implemented a wage cap salary in 2005. He served a s a the spokesperson for two Stanley Cup-winning squads in Colorado. And being one of the squad members of the notorious expensive Avalanche, Joe had the right to a $17 million contract for the 1997/98 season.
As of 2023, the retired famous athlete continues to raise his net worth as the Avalanche's general manager.
Position | Centre |
Team(s) | Quebec Nordiques and the Colorado Avalanche (1988 to 2009) |
Career earnings | $109.9 million |
Estimated net worth | $65 million |
4. Pavel Vladimirovich Bure - $70 million
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At the fourth position sits another legendary hockey player, Pavel Bure, famously dubbed the Russian Rocket. The Panthers honoured him with a lucrative five-year contract after stealing him from the Canucks during the 1999/00 season.
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Pavel was one sought-after hockey gurus in Panthers history who helped put south Florida hockey on the map. Even though his career was cut short due to severe injuries he encountered in one of the seasons, his influence in the NHL is still felt.
Position | Right winger |
Team(s) | New York Rangers 2002 to 2003), Florida Panthers (1999 to 2002), and Vancouver Canucks (1991 to 1999) |
Career earnings | $66 million |
Estimated net worth | $70 million |
3. Alexander Ovechkin - $80 million
Famously dubbed the Great Eight, Alexander Ovechkin is a Russian-based professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Second, to Wayne Gretzky, he is regarded as the greatest goal-scorer of all time.
His fame skyrocketed following the 13-year contract he signed in 2008 with the Washington Capitals. By the agreement, Ovechkin received an average of $9.5 million per year, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in NHL history.
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Position | Left winger |
Team(s) | Dynamo Moscow (2001 to 2005 and Washington Capitals (2005 to present) |
Career earnings | $127.2 million |
Estimated net worth | $80 million |
2. Mario Lemieux - $200 million
Source: Getty Images
Mario Lemieux is a retired professional ice hockey player hailing from Canada. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1984 to 2006 and took part in 17 NHL seasons until owning the team in 1999.
Even though his career was ultimately cut short due to severe injuries, Mario Lemieux is still one of the greatest hockey players the National Hockey League has ever seen.
Position | Centre |
Team(s) | Pittsburgh Penguins (1984 to 1997, 2000 to 2006) |
Career earnings | $54.5 million |
Estimated net worth | $200 million |
1. Wayne Gretzky - $250 million
Source: Getty Images
And to the wealthiest hockey player of all time, meet Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian-based former professional ice hockey player and former head coach who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 1999.
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Throughout his career, he got nicknamed the Great One, as no one had ever seen an athlete so skilled in hockey as he was. Since Gretzky is still contributing to Turner's NHL coverage, his net worth is bound to rise.
Position | Centre |
Team(s) | Edmonton Oilers (1979 to 1988), Los Angeles Kings (1988 to 1996), St Louis Blues (1996), and New York Rangers (1996 to 1999) |
Career earnings | $46 million |
Estimated net worth | $250 million |
Notably, some of the richest hockey players of all time have purchased the teams they once played for, all to add that extra coin into the bank account. Additionally, you will realise that most of them have not earned substantial net worth from their career earnings but rather from sponsorship and endorsement deals.
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