How Dustin Johnson bribed Paulina Gretzky to reject Playboy

Paulina Gretzky had her hopes set on posing for Playboy when the magazine came calling — but golf star Dustin Johnson got in her way.

Paulina Gretzky was all set to pose for Playboy — until Dustin Johnson intervened.

The iconic magazine approached the daughter of the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, in the early days of her relationship with golfer Johnson with an offer she didn’t want to turn down.

Gretzky is regularly seen cheering for her fiance on the fairways of major tournaments and while they’re usually on the same team, this time around Johnson put his foot down because he couldn’t get behind the unique career opportunity.

Speaking on the Pillows and Beer podcast with American reality TV stars Austen Kroll and Craig Conover, Gretzky revealed how Johnson was prepared to dip into his own pocket to avoid seeing his better half grace the pages of Playboy — likely without too many clothes on.

“Dustin — just remember I love you — Playboy asked me to do, you know, Playboy, and I was like, ‘Yes, this is a great opportunity’,” Gretzky said.

“It had to be right when we started dating, so I want to say around 2013.

“They gave me an amount, a number and Dustin was like, ‘Absolutely not. I’m going to match it. You’re not doing it’.

“‘I don’t think so’ — and I was like, ‘OK’.

“Even though money is not the thing, I could tell it bothered him and I was like, ‘You know what, it’s fine’.”

The difference in opinions when it came to Playboy hasn’t hampered the pair’s relationship, as Gretzky hinted their wedding was inching closer by posting photos and videos on Instagram last month featuring Vera Wang gowns.

A Masters win is the sweetest victory of all.

Johnson and Gretzky are golf’s glamour couple.

Gretzky was on hand to witness Johnson’s win at last year’s Masters, and even stole the show with a cheeky outfit choice at Augusta. The 32-year-old caught people’s eyes with a low-cut number on day one of the most prestigious tournament in golf, then opted for a green jacket on the final day as her beau stormed to victory.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Masters, the winner every year is awarded a green jacket — which made Gretzky’s wardrobe choice slightly daring.

Johnson and Gretzky celebrated his Masters win style, travelling to the idyllic Caribbean holiday paradise of St Barts with a group of friends.

The first seats on the private jet went to Johnson’s brother Austin — who caddied for him at the Masters and was in tears on the final day — and his wife, Samantha. Paulina’s best friend Kim Melnichenko and her partner Matt Forss were also in tow, along with pals Emily Birdsall, her beau Sam, and former caddie Miguel Rivera.

The group celebrated in style as they soaked up the views next to the infinity pool. Footage also showed them with a huge round of shots before they played a game of Jenga.

Gretzky showed off her own golfing prowess at her birthday celebrations in December, and earlier this year opened up on what life was like growing up in the spotlight because of her famous father.

“You have to always be reserved. The most important thing is the thing that they worked hardest for, my dad worked his whole life,” Gretzky told The Netchicks podcast.

“He deserves everything, he doesn’t deserve a brat that gets to be like a crazy person.

“I never got to be a kid. Not to say I am missing out on things — I had the best life ever — but it’s hard to always have to censor myself when I just wanted to be like everybody else.”

Originally published as How Dustin Johnson bribed Paulina Gretzky to reject Playboy