NHL career earnings, endorsements, investments, lifestyle and wealth from the Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers

Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck as Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals defends during the third period at Capital One Arena on November 07, 2022 in Washington, DC. This is McDavid’s 500th career game. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)

Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid are two of the most recognizable names in modern hockey, but their financial profiles are at very different stages of their NHL careers. Ovechkin has played with the Washington Capitals for more than two decades and has made his money through long-term contracts, bonuses, endorsement deals, licensing and business ventures. McDavid, tho, came to the NHL much later, but he quickly blossomed into one of the game’s most valuable players and highest-paid commercial draws.The comparison is particularly apt once again in 2026, when Ovechkin re-signed for another season with Washington and McDavid started a new two-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers.

Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid net worth comparison in 2026

The exact personal net worth of professional athletes is not generally disclosed publicly, and therefore estimates should be viewed as approximations, not audited financial statements. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ovechkin’s net worth is around $80 million as of October 2023. Public estimates of McDavid’s financial worth have generally been lower.Ovechkin’s monetary advantage is largely a function of longevity. In his first 20 seasons in the NHL, he earned about $220 million in total (before taxes and agent fees), including about $160 million in playing salary and bonuses and about $60 million in endorsements, licensing, memorabilia and other business activities, Forbes reported.But McDavid has generated huge income at a younger age. Forbes projects his earnings in 2025-26 to be $16.5 million, with about $10 million coming on the ice and $6.5 million off it. His commercial portfolio includes collaborations with Alo Yoga, BodyArmor and Rogers, among others.

So the clearest difference is not necessarily present income each year, but accumulated wealth. Ovechkin has played a lot longer, so he has a much bigger financial base. McDavid is in his prime, so the earning power is still exceptional.

Alex Ovechkin’s career earnings and Washington Capitals wealth

Ovechkin joined the NHL with the Washington Capitals in 2005 and has been with the franchise his entire career. Notable contracts have helped boost his earnings, including a 13-year, $124 million deal signed in 2008 and a five-year, $47.5 million deal that covered 2021-22 through 2025-26.Spotrac lists Ovechkin’s NHL earnings through the 2025-26 season at more than $170 million. The deal includes a $1 million salary, a $3.25 million signing bonus and a $4.75 million performance bonus based on playing 10 games.The Washington Capitals captain has taken his status as an NHL icon and made it a bigger commercial brand. His No. 8 persona has generated merchandise, memorabilia and licensing opportunities, and his record-breaking quest for goals has raised his profile even higher.His deal, which carries a $4.25 million cap hit, could be worth up to $9 million in total compensation if he hits performance bonus marks.

Connor McDavid’s career earnings and Edmonton Oilers wealth

McDavid’s earning profile is based on yearly earning power like no one else’s. His eight-year, $100 million contract had an average annual value of $12.5 million, and his latest two-year extension keeps that figure intact through 2027-28.McDavid signed another two-year, $25 million extension in October of 2025 that will start in 2026-27. The deal retains his $12.5 million average annual value and gives Edmonton more flexibility to build around its captain.

McDavid’s status as the sport’s top active player has seen him grow into one of hockey’s biggest commercial forces. Along with his Oilers deal, his endorsement portfolio is a major second stream of income.Ovechkin, after all, has been earning money in the NHL for more than 20 years. McDavid is in the middle of his career. That gives him a huge amount of future earning potential.

How Ovechkin and McDavid continue creating fortunes

The time it takes each star to build wealth is different, but the strategy is the same: capitalize on elite playing careers and turn sporting fame into commercial opportunities.Ovechkin’s biggest financial edge is longevity. His 21 completed NHL seasons have generated more than $170 million in recorded league earnings, with endorsement and licensing activity adding tens of millions more.McDavid’s advantage is future earning power. His $12.5 million annual NHL salary still dwarfs Ovechkin’s current $4.25 million AAV, and his endorsement income already averages an estimated $6.5 million annually, Forbes reports.Neither player makes public the full composition of his investment portfolio, making it hard to check specific claims about private holdings. Hockey contracts, endorsements, licensing and memorabilia are still their most visible wealth engines.Both players possess the financial resources that accompany NHL superstardom, tho public information on their private spending and investment holdings is scarce. Luxury homes, vehicles, travel and high-end lifestyle choices can all be included in their public profiles, but the exact values would be speculative without reliable documentation.Ovechkin has a lead now in accumulated wealth by publicly available estimates. He has an enormous head start on McDavid’s career length and huge historical salary earnings. Celebrity Net Worth pegs Ovechkin’s net worth at around $80 million, while Forbes’ earnings figures show the scale of his career earnings.McDavid, tho, is making more money right now and has more time to earn even more in the future. His contract is worth $12.5 million a year, along with about $6.5 million a year off the ice (per Forbes’ 2025 estimate), giving him a lot of money-building power.