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The Most Money Making Games and Gamers in Esports
Let’s dive into the exciting world of esports and see who’s making the big bucks from gaming. In today’s online world, esports is leading the gaming industry. From new games to top players, no one can deny esports' influence on modern-day entertainment. With technological advancements being developed every day, the rise of esports is inevitable, especially as it takes oWith this rise also comes big budgets that influence how much esports players earn.These players don’t just play for fun—they’re competing for millions of dollars!
First, let’s start with the most money-making games.
The Big Money Games in Esports
1. Dota 2
💰 Biggest prize pools in EsportsTop tournament: The International Total winnings: Over $300 million in prize money! Prize Pool Record: Over $40 million (The International 2021) - The biggest prize pool ever in esports! 🏆
Why it’s so big: Dota 2 has the largest prize pools ever thanks to its crowdfunding system. Players contribute by buying in-game items, and a portion of that goes to the tournament. This system has taken The International to insane levels of cash prizes.
Top earning team: Team Spirit won the 2021 tournament and took home a whopping $18 million.
This game is a strategy-heavy team-based battle where players fight to destroy the opposing team’s base. The top winners in this game have made millions from a single tournament.
The International is the largest annual tournament of Dota 2 hosted and produced by Valve Corporation. The tournament centres around 18 teams that compete against each other until one remains as the overall champion. Additionally, The International holds the record for having the largest esports prize pool.
How the tournament works
Before The International Main Event, players have to enter the Group Stage first where 18 teams are divided into two groups, resulting in 9 teams that play against each other in a round-robin format.
During this stage, the top four teams in each group qualify for the upper bracket of the Main Event and the remaining teams advance to the lower bracket. Meanwhile, the lowest-placed teams in each group are eliminated from the tournament.
After the Group Stage follows the Main Event where the remaining 16 teams, divided between the lower and upper bracket, compete in a double-elimination bracket. Those that lose in the upper bracket are transferred to the lower bracket and losing teams in the lower bracket are eliminated from the tournament.
After that, the Grand Final Match, a best-of-five match between the top two teams in the upper and lower brackets, begins and whichever team wins is crowned the champion.
The International starts off with a $1.6 million base prize pool which increases throughout the tournament. So until the event is done, the prize pool remains unsettled.
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Top tournament: Majors Total winnings: Over $150 millionCS is a first-person shooter where two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, try to outgun each other. It’s one of the oldest games in the esports world but still one of the biggest money-makers. Think of it as the professional sport of shooting games.
3. Fortnite
Top tournament: Fortnite World Cup Total winnings: Over $140 million 💰 Prize Pool Record: $30 million (2019) Why it’s huge: Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, wanted to make a splash, and they did just that with their massive $30 million prize pool in 2019. The solo winner, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, walked away with $3 million, making him one of the highest-paid teenagers ever!Fun fact: This was the first Fortnite World Cup, and it set the bar really high for future events.
In Fortnite, 100 players drop into an island and fight until only one remains. When the game hosted the Fortnite World Cup, a 16-year-old named Bugha won $3 million in prize money! It’s part battle, part building, and the prize pools are huge.
4. League of Legends (LoL)
⚔️ A strategy game where teams compete to destroy each other’s base Top tournament: League of Legends World Championship Total winnings: Over $100 million💰 Prize Pool Record: Around $6.45 million (LoL Worlds 2018)
Why it’s big: While LoL doesn’t have the crowdfunded prize pools of Dota 2, it’s still one of the most-watched esports events worldwide. Riot Games has built one of the strongest esports ecosystems with tons of sponsorships, making this event huge in prestige (and cash).
Top earning team: Invictus Gaming took home the title in 2018, earning $2.4 million.
This is another team-based game, like Dota 2, but more popular worldwide in terms of viewership. The competition is fierce, and the World Championship brings in millions of dollars in prize money, with millions more watching online.
How Do They Make Money?
1. Global Sponsorships: Brands love slapping their logos on the jerseys and gear of top esports athletes. Think Nike or Red Bull for gamers. 2. Streaming: Platforms like Twitch and YouTube allow pros to stream their gameplay to millions of fans. The more views, the more money from ads and donations. 3. Merchandising: Many players and teams sell their own merch, from t-shirts to in-game items. 4. Content Creation: Some pros make YouTube videos or even produce their own content that generates additional income. 5. Betting Sponsorships: eSports betting has also become a significant revenue source for esports teams, with many top teams landing lucrative sponsorships from betting platforms.
Here are a few examples: • Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP): One of the oldest and most successful CS teams, has had partnerships with Betway, a major sports betting brand. • BIG Clan: Another CS team, they’ve also partnered with GG.Bet, a betting platform dedicated to esports. • Virtus.pro: One of the top teams in Dota 2 and CS, Virtus.pro has sponsorship deals with betting platforms like Parimatch. These deals help teams increase their revenue beyond prize money and merch sales, allowing them to pay players better salaries and invest in improving the performance of the team.
Teams Worth Millions
1. Team Liquid 💰 Total Earnings: Over $40 million Top games: Dota 2, CS, League of Legends, Fortnite Big wins: The International 2017 (Dota 2) – $10.8 million
Why they’re rich: Team Liquid is a powerhouse in multiple games. They’ve had success in nearly every major esport, especially in Dota 2, where they took home $10.8 million in 2017 by winning The International. They’re one of the most well-rounded and versatile teams in the esports world.
Fun fact: Team Liquid’s Dota 2 squad won The International and then went on to be one of the most feared teams across different games, from shooters to strategy titles. 2. OG 💰 Total Earnings: Over $37 million Top game: Dota 2 Big wins: The International 2018 and The International 2019 – $11.2 million and $15.6 million
Why they’re rich: OG is basically the king of Dota 2. They’re famous for being the first team to win The International twice in a row, racking up two of the biggest prize pools in esports history. These victories alone have put them in the upper echelon of esports money-makers.
Fun fact: OG’s captain, N0tail, is one of the highest-earning esports players of all time, with more than $7 million in winnings! 3. Evil Geniuses 💰 Total Earnings: Over $26 million Top games: Dota 2, CS, Call of Duty, Fortnite Big wins: The International 2015 (Dota 2) – $6.6 million
Why they’re rich: One of the oldest esports organizations, Evil Geniuses struck gold with their Dota 2 team back in 2015 by winning The International. They’ve also performed well in CS and Call of Duty, making them a true multi-game powerhouse.
Fun fact: Evil Geniuses’ Dota 2 victory in 2015 is still one of the most iconic moments in esports history, and the team's versatility keeps them in the money. 4. Fnatic 💰 Total Earnings: Over $17 million Top games: League of Legends, CS, Dota 2 Big wins: League of Legends World Championship 2011, CS tournaments
Why they’re rich: Fnatic is most famous for their dominance in League of Legends during the early days of esports, winning the first-ever LoL World Championship. They’re also one of the best teams in CS, consistently competing for titles and prize money.
Fun fact: Fnatic is one of the most well-known esports brands globally and was one of the first to capitalize on the merchandising side of esports, selling a ton of branded gear. 5. Natus Vincere (Na'Vi) 💰 Total Earnings: Over $17 million Top games: CS, Dota 2, PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege Big wins: PGL Major Stockholm 2021 (CS) – $1 million
Why they’re rich: Na'Vi has been a consistent force in CS, regularly competing in Majors and winning some of the most prestigious tournaments. They’ve also had success in Dota 2, winning The International in 2011. Their mix of skill and longevity keeps them as a top-earning team.
Highest earning esports players
With the advancement of technology, it’s now possible for people to watch players through streaming. This exposure on various platforms such as Youtube and Twitch paved the way for esports players to become more popular across the world.
Over the years, esports has brought opportunities to many players and the world has seen its popularity soar as more players become prominent in the market. Big tournaments have been held internationally, creating the world’s highest-earning esports players.
These days, you’ll see various names related to esports and many of these players have become undeniably successful and famous. Have you ever wondered how much these players actually make?
Here are some of the highest-earning esports players today:
Johan Sundstein a.k.a N0tail - $7 million
Johan Sundstein, also known as N0tail, is currently the highest-earning esports player in the world. The Danish Dota 2 player is the captain of team OG. Additionally, he and his team are known for being the first to win Dota 2’s annual tournament The International twice in a row in 2018 and 2019.
Their win and his collaboration with professional gaming organisation Fnatic earned him approximately $7million.
Jesse Vainikka a.k.a JerAx - $6.5 million
Jesse Vainikka is popularly known as JerAx, a Finnish Dota 2 player who’s also a member of the team OG. JerAx rose to fame in Heroes of Newerth and eventually in Dota 2. Since their team won two consecutive years, it made the current second-highest-paid esports player. Although JerAx has retired in January 2020, his earnings from the two previous competitions still make him one of the highest-paid esports players.
Kyle Giersdorf a.k.a Bugha - $3.2 million
When it comes to Fortnite, Kyle Giersdorf or Bugha is the top paid esports player in the world. Also known as a streamer, Bugha is the winner of the 2019 Fortnite World Cup where he won $3.2 million.
Lee Sang-hyeok a.k.a Faker - $1.3 million
Lee Sang-hyeok, popularly known as Faker, is a South Korean esports player of League of Legends. Lee is one of only two players in League of Legends history to have won the World Championship three times, in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Additionally, Faker is widely regarded as the greatest League of Legends player ever.
Peter Rasmussen a.k.a Dupreeh - $1.9 million
Peter Rasmussen, commonly known as Dupreeh, is a popular Danish Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player who has won four Majors tournaments. His contribution to his team, Astralis, earned him a total of $1.9 million.
How to become an esports player
Over the years, esports has inspired players of all ages to participate in the competitive world of professional gaming. Due to the level of competitiveness, only some have succeeded in becoming well-known esports players.
Many are still striving to become household names whether beginners or long-time players. If you’re curious about how to become a professional gamer here’s a guide to help you:
1. Find inspiration
As long as you have inspiration, you have the motivation to continue playing in the long run. However, you also have to make sure that you’re fond of the game you’re playing and not just because of the cash prizes you can obtain.
2. Choose a game to focus on
When choosing a game, there are two options you can go for—either you pick an emerging game or an established one. If you choose the latter, there’s a wide range of esports games available, some of those include:
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Call of Duty
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Valorant
- Fortnite
- Rainbow Six Siege.
The aforementioned games have big, devoted player bases and sponsored tournaments with large prize pools. Since the games are already well-established in the esports scene, it’s hard to get in especially for beginners.
Meanwhile, if you choose up-and-coming games in esports, you can help create a strong foundation for the game and you will grow alongside its community of players.
3. Join the community
Although individual talent is highly considered in esports, the community of players that support its high ranking players is also a contributing factor for their success. Additionally, playing with other experienced players will help you learn how to be better in the game, no matter if you win or lose.
4. Invest in equipment
You need a personal computer, mouse and a mechanical keyboard before participating in esports. There are a lot of options to choose from and they vary in size, sensitivity and brand. It’s best to invest in high-quality if you’re planning to use them for the long run.
5. Practice
Practice consistently to enhance your skills, discover attack moves and utilise weapons within the game. Learning the strategies from experts is a good way to familiarise yourself with the game and can push you to think of other ways to win against your enemies.
Additionally, you can even observe other professional players’ games. There are tons of videos and live streams you can watch which are great resources if you want to step up your game.
6. Climb the ladder
If you’re aiming to join a professional team, be ready to dedicate hours of practice and patience. Not only that, but you also have to be one of the strongest competitors in a group. Become familiar with the hierarchy of competition levels of the game you’re focusing on.
With this, you can establish a place in esports and get the chance to join a sponsored team that can lead you to your dream of participating in professional esports tournaments.
Establish a reputation in the gaming community and make a name for yourself with your skills and win count. With this, there’s a high chance that a team will find you and offer you a spot.
Conclusion
The title of the highest-paid game in esports definitely goes to Dota 2, with the biggest prize pools seen at The International. Players in this game have earned more money than any other game out there, thanks to its crazy prize pools. But games like Fortnite, CS, League of Legends, and PUBG are also not far behind, consistently making their players millionaires through regular competitions and championships. If you're dreaming of striking it rich in esports, picking up one of these games is probably your best shot! Happy gaming!
Words by: Rainielle Barlaw
