After a Stanley Cup win, the Canucks tempted Wayne Gretzky with an unparalleled deal: $3 million per year and a whopping 25% ownership in the team. This proposal, potentially the most lucrative in NHL history, had the power to reshape Gretzky's financial future.
Had Gretzky accepted, he'd have pocketed an estimated $8 million annually (adjusted for inflation). His 25% ownership stake would now be valued at an astonishing $330 million today. This decision, pivotal in his career, cost Gretzky the chance to amass a fortune exceeding his already impressive net worth.
Today, Gretzky's net worth sits around $250 million, with a fraction coming from playing. The majority came from lucrative endorsements.
In retrospect, Gretzky's loyalty to the Oilers defined his on-ice legacy, but the financial fallout from saying no to the NHL's biggest deal could be one of the most regrettable decisions in NHL history.