Who Is Mario Lemieux? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on October 5, 1965, Mario Lemieux is a legendary Canadian ice hockey player and philanthropist, widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. In 2025, he celebrates his 60th birthday. Lemieux was born in Montreal, Quebec, and rose to prominence in the NHL as a centerman for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Beyond his illustrious playing career, which was highlighted by two Stanley Cup championships and numerous personal accolades, Lemieux is a prominent figure in the sports community and continues to impact hockey through his business ventures and philanthropic efforts.
| Occupation | Sports Executive |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 5, 1965 |
| Age | 59 Years |
| Birth Place | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Canada |
Popularity
Mario Lemieux's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Mario Lemieux maintains a remarkable physique, standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and weighing approximately 198 pounds (90 kg). His athletic build has played a crucial role in his successful career on the ice, showcasing his agility and strength. As of 2025, Lemieux continues to prioritize health and fitness, engaging in regular exercise to stay active.
Lemieux was never able to play a full season, and only played in 70 or more games in a season on only six occasions during his career - four of which came before the age of 25.
Lemieux's career was plagued by health problems that limited him to 915 of a possible 1,430 regular season games between the opening of the 1984–85 campaign and the conclusion of the 2005–2006 campaign. Lemieux's NHL debut was on October 11, 1984 and his final game took place on December 16, 2005.
His numerous ailments included spinal disc herniation, Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic tendinitis of a hip-flexor muscle, and chronic back pain so severe that other people had to tie his skates.
He retired on two occasions due to these health issues, first in 1997 after battling lymphoma before returning in 2000, and then a second and final time in 2006 after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Lemieux also missed the entire 1994–95 season due to Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Despite his lengthy absences from the game, his play remained at a high level upon his return to the ice; he won the Hart Trophy and scoring title in 1995–96 after sitting out the entire previous season. He was on pace for 188 points, but only played in 70 games. He was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy when he made his comeback in 2000.
In 1999, he bought the then-bankrupt Penguins and their top minor-league affiliate, the American Hockey League's (AHL) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and was the team's principal owner until selling controlling interest in the team to Fenway Sports Group in 2021. However, he remains part-owner and chairman of the board.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Mario Lemieux is happily married to his long-time spouse, Nathalie Lemieux. The couple has been together for several decades and shares a strong family bond, including four children. Although there have been no widely reported details about any current relationships outside of his marriage, the couple has often appeared in public together, demonstrating their commitment to each other and their family.
He and his older brothers Alain and Richard grew up in a working class family in the Ville-Émard district. He began playing hockey at age three in his basement; before using real equipment, he and his brothers used wooden kitchen spoons as hockey sticks and bottle caps as pucks.
His father created a rink on the front lawn so that the boys could practice as much as possible, and according to family legend, the family sometimes packed snow onto the living room carpet so the brothers could practice indoors when it was dark.
Net Worth and Salary
Mario Lemieux boasts an impressive net worth, estimated to be around $100 million in 2025. This wealth results from his successful career as a player, his ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Penguins, and various business ventures. His earnings during his playing days, combined with his strategic investments, have contributed to his financial success, making him one of the wealthiest figures in hockey.
Although he played in the 1983 World Junior Hockey Championships, Lemieux did not play for the Canadian Juniors in 1984 because he disliked how coach Dave King treated him in the previous tournament. He also did not want to break up his junior season.
He finished his QMJHL career with 562 points (247 goals, 315 assists) in only 200 games across three seasons. Before the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Lemieux announced that he wanted to play for whoever drafted him. He and his agent were deadlocked with the Pittsburgh Penguins and could not negotiate a contract.
Because of this, when the Penguins called his name as the first overall draft pick, he did not shake general manager Eddie Johnston's hand nor don the Penguins jersey, which is NHL tradition.
He claimed he was upset about the contract negotiation, and said that "Pittsburgh doesn't want [him] bad enough." Even though the draft was held in Montreal, over 3,000 fans viewed a broadcast in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena; a typical Penguins game drew fewer than 7,000 fans at the time.
After the draft, Johnston signed Lemieux to a two-year contract for $600,000 plus a $150,000 signing bonus.
Career, Business and Investments
Lemieux's career in professional ice hockey spans several eras and includes a brief retirement, during which he focused on his health before making a triumphant return. Post-retirement, he became a co-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, leading the team to further success. Additionally, Lemieux has ventured into several business initiatives, including real estate investments and charitable foundations. His commitment to helping others is demonstrated through the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which focuses on cancer research and patient care.
Drafted first overall by the Penguins in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Lemieux led Pittsburgh to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992. Under his ownership, the Penguins won additional titles in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He is the only man to have his name on the Cup both as a player and owner.
He also led Team Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002, a championship at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and a Canada Cup in 1987. He won the Lester B.
Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the players four times, the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player (MVP) during the regular season three times, the Art Ross Trophy as the league's points leader six times, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP in 1991 and 1992.
He is the only player to score one goal in each of the five possible situations in a single NHL game, a feat he accomplished in 1988. At the time of his retirement, he was the NHL's seventh-highest career points scorer with 690 goals and 1,033 assists.
He ranks second in NHL history with a 0.754 career goals-per-game average, behind Mike Bossy (0.762). He ranks second in NHL history with a 1.129 career assists-per-game average and a 1.883 points-per-game average, both behind Wayne Gretzky (1.320 and 1.921, respectively).
Social Network
Mario Lemieux is active on social media, particularly on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where he shares insights about his life, hockey, and philanthropic efforts. His presence on social media allows him to connect with fans and promote his various initiatives, keeping his legacy alive and inspiring future generations of hockey players.
The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted Lemieux immediately after his first retirement in 1997, waiving the normal three-year waiting period; upon his return in 2000, he became the third Hall of Famer (after Gordie Howe and Guy Lafleur) to play after being inducted.
Lemieux's impact on the NHL has been significant: Andrew Conte of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review called him the saviour of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and after Lemieux's retirement, Wayne Gretzky commented, "You don't replace players like Mario Lemieux ...
The game will miss him." Bobby Orr called him "the most talented player I've ever seen." Orr, along with Bryan Trottier and numerous fans, speculated that if Lemieux had had fewer health issues, his on-ice achievements would have been much greater. In 2017, he was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players".
He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2004, and into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2008.
Education
While Mario Lemieux is best known for his on-ice achievements, he also pursued education. He attended the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) for a brief period while embarking on his hockey career. Though he eventually left school to focus on the NHL, Lemieux emphasizes the importance of education and lifelong learning.
In 1993, the same year he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, Lemieux created the Mario Lemieux Foundation to fund medical research projects.
Additionally, the foundation supports other organizations, including the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Leukemia Society, the Lupus Foundation and the Children's Home of Pittsburgh.
In 2007, he was among the well-known athletes who founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.
