Phil Esposito
NHL Fortune:
$4,316,662
Description
Phil Esposito’s net worth / earnings / salary history: Earned US $4,316,662 (US $16,331,802 in today's dollars), ranking #1863 in NHL / hockey career earnings.
Birthdate: February 20, 1942Did you know that Gary Bettman has accumulated the largest NHL fortune with $150M?
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| Salary History All amounts in US$ unless otherwise noted. |
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| Season | Salary (US$) |
In today's US$ |
NHL Rank |
| 1961-62 | $1,362 | $13,416 | |
| Contract in Canadian currency: $1,380. At age 19, played most of the season with the St. Catharines Teepees, of the Ontario Hockey Association, earning $C57.50 per week ($60 per week minus $2.50 because he was a pound over his target weight of 200 pounds) for 6 months | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| 1963-64 | $5,800 | $55,765 | |
| His first season in the NHL. During the summer, until his first big contract at age 30 in 1972, worked at a steel plant earning $10,000 for the summer. | |||
| Source: SportingNewsRadio interview | |||
| 1964-65 | $10,000 | $94,907 | |
| Signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Chicago Blackhawks for $8,500 and $10,000. Regular season bonuses for 1964-65 included $500 for 40 points or more, $500 for 15 goals or more, another $500 for 20 goals or more. Regular season bonuses for 1965-66 included $500 for 15 goals or more, another $500 for 20 goals or more. Got 23 goals and 55 points, earning a bonus of $ 1,500. (According to Phil Esposito on Pioneers on NHL Network, he earned $6,500) | |||
| Source: Copy of contract | |||
| 1965-66 | $11,000 | $102,774 | |
| Scored 27 goals, earning a bonus of $ 1,000 (Earned $6,500 according to the book Hockey Night Fever: Mullets, Mayhem and the Game's Coming of Age in the 1970s.) | |||
| Source: Copy of contract | |||
| 1966-67 | $16,000 | $145,159 | |
| Signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Chicago Blackhawks for $16,000 and $17,000. Regular season bonuses included $1,000 for scoring over 30 goals in the season. Did not earn the bonus. | |||
| Source: Copy of contract | |||
| 1967-68 | $18,000 | $158,849 | |
| Earned $1,000 bonus with 35 goals. (According to Phil Esposito on Pioneers on NHL Network, he earned $10,000 base salary plus bonuses based on number of goals: $500 for 20; an additional $1,000 for 25; an additional $1,000 for 30 goals; an additional $2,000 for 35; an additional $5,000 for 40.) | |||
| Source: Copy of contract | |||
| 1968-69 | $19,500 | $165,060 | |
| $10,000 base salary plus bonus based on number of goals: $500 for 20; an additional $1,000 for 25; an additional $1,000 for 30 goals; an additional $2,000 for 35; an additional $5,000 for 40. Scored 49 goals, earning $ 9,500 in bonuses. | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Pioneers (NHL Network) | |||
| 1969-70 | $20,000 | $160,523 | |
| Estimated minimum earnings based on documented salary for 1968-69. | |||
| Source: HockeyZonePlus | |||
| 1970-71 | $20,000 | $151,674 | |
| Estimated minimum earnings based on documented salary for 1968-69. | |||
| Source: HockeyZonePlus | |||
| 1971-72 | $20,000 | $145,419 | |
| Estimated minimum earnings based on documented salary for 1968-69. | |||
| Source: HockeyZonePlus | |||
| 1972-73 | $100,000 | $703,969 | |
| Signed his first big NHL contract with the Boston Bruins for $100,000 per year and stopped working at a steel plant during the summer. | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick Podcast | |||
| 1973-74 | $100,000 | $663,063 | |
| Estimated minimum earnings based on documented salary for 1972-73. | |||
| Source: HockeyZonePlus | |||
| 1974-75 | $100,000 | $597,039 | |
| Estimated minimum earnings based on documented salary for 1972-73. | |||
| Source: HockeyZonePlus | |||
| 1975-76 | $200,000 | $1,094,017 | |
| Prior to the season, met the Vancouver Blazers of the World Hockey Association and was offered a five-year contract for $2.5M plus a $1M signing bonus. He considered it and turned it down out of loyalty for the Bruins. He ultimately signed a four-year contract with the Boston Bruins for $200,000 per season. Twelve game into the season, he was traded to the New York Rangers. (According to The Sporting News, his salary was $375,000.) | |||
| Source: The New York Times / Book: The Hot Line | |||
| 1976-77 | $400,000 | $2,069,232 | |
| (Earned $300,000 according to The Sporting News.) | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| 1977-78 | $325,000 | $1,578,617 | |
| (Earned $US 400,000 according to Phil Esposito on the Cam & Strick podcast (and he's not known to exagerate!) and $215,000 according to the Gazette.) | |||
| Source: Globe and Mail / The Hockey News 1979 / Book: The Hot Line | |||
| 1978-79 | $400,000 | $1,805,304 | |
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| 1979-80 | $400,000 | $1,622,486 | |
| (Earned $275,000 according to The Sporting News.) | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| 1980-81 | $400,000 | $1,428,953 | |
| Retired as a pro-hockey player after the season. | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| 1991-92 | $350,000 | $756,590 | 120 |
| Signed a five-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning to be their General Manager. | |||
| Source: Tampa Bay Times | |||
| 1992-93 | $350,000 | $734,322 | 218 |
| As General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. | |||
| Source: Tampa Bay Times | |||
| 1993-94 | $350,000 | $713,277 | 336 |
| As General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. | |||
| Source: Tampa Bay Times | |||
| 1994-95 | $350,000 | $695,183 | 216 |
| Because of the lockout, his NHL salary of $612,500 was prorated for the 48-game season. As General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. | |||
| Source: Tampa Bay Times | |||
| 1995-96 | $350,000 | $676,204 | 499 |
| As General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. | |||
| Source: Tampa Bay Times | |||
| 2020-21 | $0 | $0 | 1269 |
| He receives a $C 32,600/year pension from the NHL. Unclear when the pension kicked in. | |||
| Source: Phil Esposito on Cam & Strick podcast | |||
| Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHL played a 56-game season instead of 82. Base salaries were not pro-rated but 10% of $0 was deferred and payable in three yearly payments, starting in October 2022, without interests. Escrow for the season was increased to 20% and performance bonuses were pro-rated (amounts and targets to reach). | |||
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Career Total: US $4,316,662 (In today's dollars: US $16,331,802) NHL Rank: 1863 (In today's dollars: 1067) |
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