Two names, one search box, and almost no direct connection. That’s the puzzle behind Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio. One man rewrote the NHL record book. The other spent three decades building beer and food brands, then led one of the biggest packaged-food companies on earth.
So why do people search for them together? A shared corporate thread explains most of it, and a few mixed-up headlines explain the rest. A third name, a famous Wall Street investor, also gets pulled into the mix.
You’ll get clear answers below. Each section covers careers, money, family life, and the Kraft Hockeyville link. Dates and figures are current as of November 2026.
Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio at a Glance
Start with the quick comparison. It shows how different these two lives are.
| Detail | Wayne Gretzky | Miguel Patricio |
|---|---|---|
| Born | January 26, 1961, Brantford, Ontario, Canada | 1966, Portugal (raised and educated in Brazil) |
| Age in late 2026 | 65 | About 60 |
| Field | Professional hockey, then broadcasting and business | Marketing, brewing, packaged foods |
| Best-known roles | Edmonton Oilers captain, NHL all-time points leader | AB InBev global CMO, Kraft Heinz CEO |
| Peak years | 1979 to 1999 | 2012 to 2023 |
| Nickname | “The Great One” | None widely used |
| Commonly cited net worth | About $250 million | About $30 million in disclosed Kraft Heinz stock alone |
| 2026 status | TNT Sports analyst and league ambassador | Kraft Heinz board member and AB InBev board member |
The takeaway: Gretzky and Patricio share a sponsor-style link through Kraft, not a relationship. Kraft Heinz runs a famous hockey contest. Patricio ran Kraft Heinz for four and a half years. That’s the whole bridge.
What Is Verified and What Is Not
Net worth pages and fan wikis often mix fact with guesswork. Sorting them first saves you from repeating bad information.
| Category | Treat as solid | Treat as estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Gretzky’s records | 894 goals, 1,963 assists, 2,857 points | None |
| Gretzky’s titles | Four Stanley Cups, nine Hart Trophies | None |
| Patricio’s roles | Kraft Heinz CEO 2019 to 2023, chair from 2022 | None |
| Gretzky’s wealth | Career NHL salary near $46 million | Total net worth near $250 million |
| Patricio’s wealth | Stock holdings reported in insider data | Total net worth |
| Joint projects | None found in the public record | Rumors of friendship or deals |
Net worth numbers always come from outside estimates. Neither man publishes a personal balance sheet. The good news is that public filings let you build a sensible range for Patricio. Gretzky’s number has stayed remarkably steady across major estimators for years.
Who Is Wayne Gretzky?
Wayne Douglas Gretzky is the most prolific scorer hockey has ever seen. Fans call him “The Great One” for good reason. He owns or shares more than 60 NHL records, and many of them look unbreakable.
His famous line sums up his mindset. He said you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. That idea shaped how a skinny kid from Ontario ended up with the number 99 retired league-wide.
Early Life and the Backyard Rink
Gretzky grew up in Brantford, Ontario. His father, Walter, worked for the phone company and loved hockey. Every winter Walter flooded the backyard and built a small rink. Family and neighbors nicknamed it the “Wally Coliseum.”
That rink did the heavy lifting. Young Wayne skated for hours after school. Walter taught him simple but powerful habits:
- Skate to where the puck is going. Anticipation beat raw speed.
- Use both sides of the ice. He learned to read the whole rink.
- Keep your head up. Vision became his signature skill.
By age 10 he had scored a stunning 378 goals in a single youth season. Reporters in Canada started writing about him while he was still in grade school. At 14 he left home to play junior hockey in Toronto. At 16 he joined the Soo Greyhounds, and by 17 he turned pro.
NHL Career, Teams and Records
Gretzky began his pro career in 1978 with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. He moved to the Edmonton Oilers soon after. The Oilers joined the NHL in 1979, and Gretzky became an instant star.
Here’s how his journey unfolded:
- Edmonton Oilers (1979 to 1988): Four Stanley Cups in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988.
- Los Angeles Kings (1988 to 1996): A trade that made hockey popular in California.
- St. Louis Blues (1996): A short stop late in the 1995-96 season.
- New York Rangers (1996 to 1999): Three final seasons before retirement.
His career numbers still look like typos.
| Record or honor | Total |
|---|---|
| NHL career goals | 894 |
| NHL career assists | 1,963 |
| NHL career points | 2,857 |
| Hart Trophies (MVP) | 9 |
| Art Ross Trophies (top scorer) | 10 |
| Stanley Cups | 4 |
| Single-season goals record | 92 (1981-82) |
| Single-season points record | 215 (1985-86) |
| Single-season assists record | 163 (1985-86) |
Here’s the stat that stuns hockey fans most. Gretzky’s assists alone total more than any other player’s career points. Nobody else even reaches 2,000 total points.
Case Study: The 1988 Trade That Changed Hockey
On August 9, 1988, the Oilers traded Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. Canada called it a national shock. Politicians even debated it.
The move worked for the league in a huge way. Hockey suddenly mattered in Southern California. Kings tickets sold out. Youth rinks opened across the Sun Belt. NHL expansion into warmer markets followed within a few years. In 1993, Gretzky led the Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final.
The lesson: One star can open a whole new market. That’s why Gretzky matters to business people as much as hockey fans.
Retirement and Life After Hockey
Gretzky retired on April 18, 1999. The NHL retired his number 99 for every team on February 6, 1999. That honor remains unique. Soon after, the Hockey Hall of Fame waived its usual waiting period and inducted him that same year.
Life after the ice stayed busy:
- Executive role: He led Canada’s men’s team as executive director at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the team won gold.
- Coaching and ownership: He coached the Phoenix Coyotes from 2005 to 2009 and held an ownership stake.
- Business ventures: He launched the Wayne Gretzky Estates winery and distillery in Ontario’s Niagara region.
- Broadcasting: He joined TNT Sports as a studio analyst and has been a regular on its NHL coverage.
- Charity: The Wayne Gretzky Foundation supports youth hockey programs.
Wayne Gretzky Personal Life and Family
Gretzky married actress Janet Jones in July 1988. They have five children: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan and Emma. Paulina married professional golfer Dustin Johnson. Trevor chose baseball and played in the minor leagues. The family lives mostly in California and spends time in Canada.
His father Walter passed away in January 2022 at age 82. Walter had remained a beloved public figure in Canada. Wayne often credits him for everything on the ice.
When Ovechkin Broke the Goals Record
For 30 years, 894 looked untouchable. Then Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals closed in. On April 6, 2025, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders. Gretzky sat in the building and stood to applaud him.
The moment showed Gretzky’s class. He congratulated Ovechkin on the ice and praised his consistency. Ovechkin kept adding goals afterward, so his total keeps climbing.
Even so, Gretzky still holds huge marks:
- Career assists: 1,963, far ahead of second place
- Career points: 2,857, still first
- Single-season goals: 92
- Single-season assists and points: 163 and 215
Important fix: If you read that Gretzky “still holds the goals record,” that’s out of date. Ovechkin owns it now.
Wayne Gretzky in 2026
Gretzky turned 65 in January 2026. He stays a daily presence in hockey life. He works as an analyst for TNT Sports, appears at league events, and supports charity work. He also stays visible around the NHL’s biggest nights. Fans still treat him as the face of the sport.
Who Is Miguel Patricio?
Miguel Patricio is a Portuguese-born, Brazilian-educated executive. He built his reputation on one skill above all: brand marketing. Over three decades he helped grow beer labels like Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois. Then he took that playbook to a food giant.
Early Life and Education
Patricio was born in Portugal around 1966. He grew up and studied in Brazil. He earned a business degree from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, one of Brazil’s best-known business schools. That school has trained many of the country’s top executives.
His early path shows a pattern. He moved between countries often. He learned how different markets think about brands. That global habit later became his biggest strength.
Early Career: Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Philip Morris
Patricio started in marketing at big consumer companies. Each stop taught him something different.
| Employer | What he picked up |
|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson | Consumer research and disciplined brand management |
| Coca-Cola | Mass-market branding and global sponsorship thinking |
| Philip Morris | Sharp marketing in a heavily regulated category |
He then moved into Brazil’s beverage world. That decision shaped the rest of his career.
Years at AB InBev and Ambev
Patricio joined Brazilian brewer Ambev in the late 1990s. Ambev later merged into the world’s largest brewer, AB InBev. Over two decades he held a string of senior jobs:
- Marketing leadership at Ambev: He ran marketing for Brazil’s big beer brands.
- North America roles: He led Labatt USA and ran Canadian brewer Lakeport.
- Asia Pacific: He led a major regional zone and helped grow the business in China.
- Global CMO: He became AB InBev’s chief marketing officer and held the job from 2012 to 2018.
As global CMO he managed some of the world’s most visible brands. Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois all grew under his watch. His teams also handled huge sports sponsorships, including the FIFA World Cup.
Case Study: Why 3G Capital Trusted Him
AB InBev and Kraft Heinz share a major investor, 3G Capital. The Brazilian firm knew Patricio well from his AB InBev days. When Kraft Heinz needed a new leader in 2019, 3G’s network pointed straight to him. His record showed brand growth plus cost discipline, which is exactly what the struggling food company needed.
Miguel Patricio as Kraft Heinz CEO From 2019 to 2023
Patricio became Kraft Heinz CEO on July 1, 2019. He replaced Bernardo Hees. The company was in rough shape. It had just taken a massive writedown on its Kraft and Oscar Mayer brands. Its stock had slid. Investors wanted a reset.
His plan focused on four moves:
- Rebuild brand investment. He raised marketing spending after years of cuts.
- Fix the balance sheet. He cut debt by billions.
- Speed up decisions. He pushed for faster product launches.
- Put consumers first. He insisted that research guide every big call.
The pandemic helped in a strange way. Families stocked pantries with Kraft Mac & Cheese, Heinz ketchup and Oscar Mayer products. Sales jumped in 2020. Patricio used that window to repair the company’s finances.
He stepped down as CEO at the end of December 2023. Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who ran the North American business, took over on January 1, 2024.
Miguel Patricio as Chair and Executive Chair
Patricio moved to the board’s top seat in May 2022. He replaced co-founder Alexandre Behring as chair while still serving as CEO. After he left the CEO job, he stayed on as chair.
In September 2025 the company announced a plan to split into two public companies. One would focus on North American grocery and the other on global sauces and spreads. At that point Patricio became executive chair. He worked with the CEO to prepare the separation.
Then everything shifted. In November 2025 the board named Steve Cahillane, the former Kellanova CEO, as the new Kraft Heinz CEO starting January 1, 2026. John Cahill became board chair. Patricio stayed on as a director.
Miguel Patricio in 2026
Patricio’s year has been quieter but still important:
- Kraft Heinz board: He remains a director.
- AB InBev board: Market data shows him returning to the AB InBev board in April 2026.
- Company news: In February 2026 Cahillane paused the split. He said many challenges were “fixable and within our control.” The company then committed $600 million to marketing, sales and research.
So the headline is simple. Patricio no longer runs Kraft Heinz day to day. He now helps shape strategy from the boardroom.
Miguel Patricio Personal Life
Patricio keeps his private life out of the press. He rarely gives interviews about family. What the record shows is his journey. He moved from Portugal to Brazil, then to the United States, Canada and Asia. He now works between Chicago and Pittsburgh, where Kraft Heinz keeps its dual headquarters.
How Kraft Heinz Connects to Hockey
Here’s where the two stories finally meet. The link runs through a company, not a friendship.
What Is Kraft Hockeyville?
Kraft Hockeyville is a Canadian contest that rewards small towns for their love of hockey. Kraft Canada launched it in 2006 with the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. Communities share stories about their local arenas. Fans vote. Winners get cash for rink upgrades plus an NHL pre-season game.
Key facts about the program:
- First winner: Salmon River, Nova Scotia, in 2006
- First game: Montreal beat Ottawa 7-3 in Truro, Nova Scotia
- Money awarded before 2026: About $5.4 million across 105 communities
- 2025 winner: Saint-Boniface, Quebec
Kraft Hockeyville 2026
The 2026 edition marked the program’s 20th anniversary. It became the biggest in history with more than $1 million in total prizing.
Here’s how the 2026 contest worked:
| Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Provincial and territorial winners | 13 communities, $50,000 each plus equipment |
| Top two finalists | Taber, Alberta and Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia |
| Public vote | April 3 and 4, 2026 |
| Winner | Taber, Alberta |
| Grand prize | $250,000 for rink upgrades plus an NHL pre-season game |
| Runner-up | Tumbler Ridge, $100,000 |
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the winner on April 4 during Hockey Night in Canada. The pre-season game goes to Taber in fall 2027.
Case Study: Why Taber Won
Taber’s story moved voters. A Zamboni explosion on December 17, 2025, destroyed the town’s only two ice rinks. The blast displaced 15 minor hockey teams and more than 250 young players. Residents gathered at the damaged rink to grieve and rebuild.
The town used its prize money for a better sound system and accessible seating. Repairs were expected to finish by the end of summer 2026. The town’s own statement captured the spirit: “This was never just about hockey. This was about home.”
The runner-up, Tumbler Ridge, also had a powerful story. The community had endured a painful tragedy earlier in 2026. Many Canadians voted with their hearts for both towns.
Why This Is a Company Link, Not a Personal One
Here’s the chain in plain terms:
Kraft Heinz → Kraft Heinz Canada → Kraft Hockeyville → The hockey world
Patricio led the parent company until 2023. Kraft Hockeyville is a Canadian marketing program run by Kraft Heinz Canada. Its public face is the Canadian division’s president, Simon Laroche, plus the league and players’ association. Gretzky holds no public role in the contest.
So the link looks like this:
- Patricio sat at the top of the corporate parent.
- Kraft Heinz sponsors a hockey program.
- Gretzky is hockey’s biggest name, but he isn’t part of that program.
Think of it like a stadium naming deal. The company’s CEO and the star athlete both relate to the same venue, yet they never need to meet.
Who Is Mario Gabelli? The Third Name Behind the Search
Some people type miguel patricio and mario gabelli into search engines. The pairing makes sense on the surface. Both men sit at the top of large business worlds. Still, they work in different corners of finance and consumer brands.
Mario Gabelli is an American investor. He was born in 1942 in the Bronx, New York. He worked as a golf caddie to help pay for college. He graduated from Fordham University and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School.
His career highlights include:
- 1967: Started as a securities analyst on Wall Street
- 1977: Founded Gabelli & Company
- GAMCO Investors: Built it into a major asset manager
- Investment style: “Private market value with a catalyst,” meaning he buys stocks trading below what a private buyer would pay
- Recognition: Barron’s named him to its All-Century Team in 2000
Today Gabelli serves as executive chairman of Associated Capital Group and remains closely tied to GAMCO. Forbes listed his net worth at about $1.7 billion in December 2023. Market trackers valued his disclosed public holdings near $940 million in mid-2026. The gap exists because trackers count only listed shares and Forbes counts wider assets.
Does he connect to Patricio? No public record shows a joint role, partnership or friendship. Gabelli picks stocks and runs funds. Patricio runs brands and companies. Investors in food and beverage stocks sometimes mention both names in the same market commentary, and that overlap explains the search habit.
Timeline of Key Dates
A timeline makes the separate paths easy to see.
| Year | Wayne Gretzky | Miguel Patricio |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Born in Brantford, Ontario | N/A |
| 1966 | N/A | Born in Portugal |
| 1978 | Turns pro with the Indianapolis Racers | Studying and starting his career in Brazil |
| 1979 | Joins the NHL with Edmonton | Early consumer-goods marketing years |
| 1984 | First Stanley Cup | Builds career in marketing roles |
| 1988 | Traded to Los Angeles | Marketing climb continues |
| Late 1990s | Retires in 1999, enters Hall of Fame | Joins Ambev |
| 2002 | Executive director of Canada’s Olympic gold team | Senior brewing leadership roles |
| 2005 to 2009 | Coaches the Phoenix Coyotes | Regional leadership at AB InBev |
| 2012 | N/A | Named AB InBev global CMO |
| 2019 | N/A | Becomes Kraft Heinz CEO on July 1 |
| 2022 | Father Walter passes away | Becomes Kraft Heinz chair in May |
| 2023 | N/A | Steps down as CEO in December |
| 2025 | Ovechkin passes his goals record on April 6 | Named executive chair in September |
| 2026 | TNT analyst and league ambassador | Remains on boards; Kraft Hockeyville names Taber |
Did Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio Ever Work Together?
Short answer: no. The public record shows no joint project, business deal, board seat or sponsorship tied to the two men.
Here’s the gap people miss. Sharing a sponsor world isn’t the same as sharing a project. Kraft Heinz sponsors hockey in Canada. Gretzky is hockey royalty. Patricio ran Kraft Heinz. Those facts sit near each other without touching.
A good comparison helps. A famous quarterback and a soft-drink CEO might both appear in the same stadium ads. They still never need to work together.
Common Mistakes About Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio
Bad information spreads fast around celebrity pairings. These are the mistakes that come up most:
- Assuming a friendship or partnership. No evidence supports one.
- Believing Gretzky still holds the goals record. Ovechkin passed him in April 2025.
- Treating Patricio as the current Kraft Heinz CEO. He left that role at the end of 2023.
- Thinking Abrams-Rivera still leads the company. He stepped down on January 1, 2026.
- Mixing up Kraft Hockeyville with an NHL-run event. Kraft Heinz Canada runs it with NHL and NHLPA partnership.
- Treating net worth sites as official. They publish estimates.
- Confusing Patricio with Gabelli. One is a brand executive and the other is an investor.
Net Worth: Wayne Gretzky Net Worth, Miguel Patricio Net Worth and Mario Gabelli
Money questions drive a lot of these searches. Here’s a clear picture with the best numbers available.
Wayne Gretzky Net Worth
Most major estimators put Wayne Gretzky’s net worth near $250 million. That figure has stayed stable for years.
His wealth came from four streams:
- NHL salary: Roughly $46 million across his career, large for his era
- Endorsements: Decades of sponsorship deals in hockey and beyond
- Business ventures: Wine, spirits and branded products
- Ownership and media work: Coyotes involvement plus broadcasting income
His salary alone doesn’t explain the total. Brand value did most of the work.
Miguel Patricio Net Worth
Insider data from mid-2026 shows Patricio holding about 1.29 million Kraft Heinz shares. That’s roughly 0.11 percent of the company. Those shares were worth about $30 million around June 2026.
That number sets a floor, not a ceiling. It doesn’t include:
- Cash from salary and bonuses during his CEO years
- Stock he sold in earlier years
- Real estate and other investments
- Pay from board service at Kraft Heinz and AB InBev
A reasonable read is this: Miguel Patricio net worth sits comfortably above $30 million, though no source publishes an exact total. Executive pay details appear each year in company proxy statements.
Mario Gabelli Net Worth
Forbes pegged Gabelli at about $1.7 billion in late 2023. Mid-2026 tracking of his disclosed holdings came in near $940 million. His wealth ties heavily to GAMCO and related funds.
Net Worth Comparison
| Person | Commonly cited figure | What it’s based on | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | About $250 million | Career earnings, endorsements, ventures | Medium to high |
| Miguel Patricio | About $30 million and up | Reported Kraft Heinz stock holdings | Medium (floor figure) |
| Mario Gabelli | $1.7 billion (Forbes, 2023) | Business stakes and holdings | Medium to high |
Why do estimates disagree? Each site uses different methods. Some count only public stock. Others add guesses about private assets. Treat every figure as a range.
Why Do These Two Names Appear Together in Search?
Several simple forces create the pairing.
1. Kraft Hockeyville headlines. News about the contest mentions Kraft Heinz. Stories about Kraft Heinz mention Patricio. Hockey stories mention Gretzky. Search tools notice the overlap.
2. Autocomplete and related searches. People who look up one name often look up the other. Search engines then suggest both. A loop forms.
3. Name-based news roundups. Some sites bundle unrelated celebrity names into one page.
4. Confusion with Gabelli. Searches like miguel patricio and mario gabelli show how people connect business leaders in food and finance. The two men don’t share a known project.
None of these forces point to a real relationship. They reflect how search habits work.
How Their Careers Differ
One man made headlines with a stick. The other made them with spreadsheets and ad campaigns.
| Factor | Wayne Gretzky | Miguel Patricio |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Professional sports | Consumer goods and brewing |
| Core skill | On-ice vision and scoring | Brand building and global marketing |
| Peak years | 1979 to 1999 | 2012 to 2023 |
| Public profile | Global celebrity | Well known in business circles |
| Success measure | Records, trophies, titles | Sales growth, margins, debt reduction |
| After the peak | Broadcasting and brand ventures | Board leadership |
| Worked with | Teams, leagues, broadcasters | Brewers, food makers, investors |
Still, one theme links them. Both men studied how audiences think. Gretzky read the ice before the puck arrived. Patricio read shoppers before trends hit shelves. Each built a career on anticipation.
Lessons From Both Careers
You can borrow a few ideas from each man.
From Gretzky:
- Practice the basics for hours.
- Study the game better than anyone else.
- Treat teammates as part of your success.
From Patricio:
- Invest in brands during tough times.
- Fix the balance sheet before chasing growth.
- Stay curious about new markets.
Both stories show that long-term focus beats short-term noise.
FAQ’s
Are Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio connected?
Only loosely. Patricio led Kraft Heinz, which sponsors Kraft Hockeyville through its Canadian division. Gretzky is hockey’s biggest star. No public record shows a personal or business relationship between them.
Did Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio work together?
No. Nothing in the public record points to a joint project, deal or board role. Their careers ran in separate industries.
Who is Miguel Patricio?
Miguel Patricio is a Portuguese-born, Brazilian-educated executive. He served as AB InBev’s global CMO from 2012 to 2018. He then led Kraft Heinz as CEO from July 2019 to December 2023.
Is Miguel Patricio still the CEO of Kraft Heinz?
No. He stepped down as CEO at the end of 2023. He stayed on as chair, then executive chair, and remains a board member in 2026.
Who is the current Kraft Heinz CEO?
Steve Cahillane has led Kraft Heinz since January 1, 2026. He previously ran Kellanova. He paused the planned company split in February 2026 and announced a $600 million investment in growth.
Does Wayne Gretzky still hold the NHL goals record?
No. Alex Ovechkin passed Gretzky’s 894 career goals on April 6, 2025. Gretzky still holds the career assists and points records.
Who won Kraft Hockeyville 2026?
Taber, Alberta, won on April 4, 2026. The town received $250,000 for rink upgrades plus an NHL pre-season game in fall 2027. Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, took $100,000 as runner-up.
What is Wayne Gretzky doing in 2026?
Gretzky works as a studio analyst for TNT Sports. He also appears at league events and supports youth hockey through his foundation.
What was Miguel Patricio’s role at AB InBev?
He served as global chief marketing officer from 2012 to 2018. Earlier he held regional leadership roles and marketing posts at Ambev. He helped grow brands like Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois.
What is Miguel Patricio’s net worth?
No exact public total exists. Insider data shows his Kraft Heinz shares were worth roughly $30 million in mid-2026. His full net worth likely runs higher once past pay and other assets are counted.
Conclusion
Wayne Gretzky and Miguel Patricio lived two very different lives. Gretzky shattered NHL records and reached a net worth near $250 million. Patricio climbed from brand marketing to the Kraft Heinz corner office and now serves on major boards.
Their only link runs through Kraft Heinz and its Kraft Hockeyville program. In 2026 that program crowned Taber, Alberta, in its 20th anniversary year. No evidence shows the two men ever worked together.
The same goes for the name pairing people search for, miguel patricio and mario gabelli. It’s a search habit, not a partnership. Check company filings and official league sites when you want future updates. Those sources stay current while net worth pages drift.
