Alex Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, a Stanley Cup champion and the holder of many other league records. Though, one in particular will have some wide-eyed.
The Washington Capitals captain has earned the most career salary ever by an NHL player, according to Spotrac and via DraftKings Sportsbook.
As of the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, which was Ovi’s 20th in the NHL, the Russian superstar has earned just over $161.72 million in salary. That’s nearly $6 million more than the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby ($155.89 million), the next closest earner who has put in the same number of service years.
Crosby’s Penguins teammate and Ovechkin’s fellow Russian, Evgeni Malkin, rounds out the top three with a mind-boggling $146.87 million, followed by long-time Los Angeles Kings centerman Anze Kopitar ($136.25 million), and the Hockey Hall of Fame-bound Jaromir Jagr ($135.38 million).
Ovechkin’s five-year, $47.5 million extension he signed in 2020 mathematically allowed him to pass Jagr and his total is expected to rise to $171.22 million after completing the 2025-26 season, which at the moment could be his last in the NHL. In recent interviews, however, the 39-year-old has not ruled out playing longer by another year or so.
If Ovechkin were to hang up his skates after the upcoming campaign, his long-time rival in Crosby is poised to overtake him due to the two-year, $17.4 million extension he signed last September. He would earn just over $173.29 million after 22 seasons in the league.
While this all sounds like a lot of money, don’t think that’s how much Ovechkin has in his actual bank account. According to him, it’s nowhere even close.
“I don’t even know [how much money and assets I have],” Ovechkin said a year ago per a transcription by sports.ru and a translation by Google Translate.
When asked if he had over $100 million, Ovechkin replied, “Of course not. How? There are taxes. If I had 100 million, I would be relaxing and drinking beer right now.”
While this all seems like a lot of money to us mere mortals, Ovi’s career earnings to date are chump change compared to those in the other big three North American sports leagues. Ovi would have the 28th highest total all-time in the NFL, 84th in the NBA and 67th in the MLB. For context, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic’s recent three-year, $165 million max extension will rake him more money than Ovechkin has in his career so far.
Aaron Rodgers ($380.65 million), LeBron James ($538.69 million) and Alex Rodriguez ($455.15 million) are the top all-time earners in their respective leagues.