If you were growing up in the ’90s and early 20s, there is a good chance that your mother has said to you “Stop playing video games, they won’t bring you any benefit in life” But for once, our parents were not right.
The rise of the eSports industry is a phenomenon that will be studied for years, but it seems like the only logical expansion of traditional sports and bringing something new to spice things up. On top of that, games are now more realistic, and highly competitive, and they require extraordinary skills in order to win.
Every number in the statistics of the eSports industry in the past couple of years will shock you. From the tournament prize earnings to total watch hours, and number of bets placed on eSports. You can learn more about the frenetic growth of eSports at JacksHouse.com.
However, in this article, we are interested in the net worth of eSports superstars. Some are winning millions of dollars, but they are big organizations, and not all the money goes to a certain player. So, let’s explore the world of top eSports players and find out their net worth.
1. Crimsix (CoD)
In the fifth spot, we’ve got a player who’s often seen as controversial, but Crimsix’s singular focus is on winning, no matter what it takes. He’s undeniably one of the top Call of Duty players, which explains his substantial earnings.
Over the years, Crimsix has accumulated approximately $1.4 million in tournament winnings, thanks to his numerous victories. Keep in mind that he’s been competing in all the Call of Duty titles for a solid decade, and that’s led to a substantial sum in prize money. When he left OpTic in 2019, some doubted if he could maintain his dominance, but Crimsix proved everyone wrong by clinching another world title.
His estimated net worth is well above $2 million.
2. Faker (LoL)
In fourth place, we find the wealthiest League of Legends player in history, having raked in $1.4 million in prize money. We’re talking about none other than the Unkillable Demon King, Faker.
He burst onto the scene in 2013 and swiftly established himself as the undisputed GOAT. Faker boasts an impressive 10 LCK titles, two MSI victories, and the unique distinction of being a three-time League of Legends Worlds champion.
With a decade in the league, he’s accumulated around $1.4 million from his tournament wins. But it’s likely his fortune is even greater, considering his ownership stake in T1 and various sponsorship deals, not to mention his income as an esports pro. Despite retirement rumors, the 26-year-old is still in action with T1 this season, and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.
His estimated net worth surpasses $5 million.
3. dupreeh (CS: GO)
Taking a leap into the third position, we arrive in the $2 million range, where the highest-earning CS: GO player, dupreeh, stands tall. CS:GO has enjoyed immense popularity in recent years, leading to higher earnings for pro players.
Dupreeh has been a standout in the CS:GO scene for years and is one of only six players to have participated in every major. What sets him apart, though, is not just participation but also the numerous CS:GO majors he’s won with his Astralis teammates, more than anyone else in the game. According to Esport Earnings, dupreeh has pocketed $2.03 million, just a tad more than his peers, xyp9x, and dev1ce. For core Astralis players, there’s no real concern about being overtaken in the prize money department.
His estimated net worth is in the same league as Faker from LoL, hovering around $5 million.
4. Bugha (Fortnite)
With a substantial jump to three million dollars, we introduce Bugha, the wealthiest Fortnite player in history, and possibly one of the richest young talents on the planet, achieving immense success in a remarkably short time – a dream most pros can only aspire to.
His initial taste of competitive gaming came in 2018 at the Quads event, held in a Microsoft facility, where he secured a share of $5,000. This sum pales in comparison to what he won the following year at the Fortnite World Championship, a staggering three million dollars, bringing his total tournament earnings to 3.1 million.
This victory catapulted him to stardom and established him as one of the wealthiest esports players ever, outside of Dota.
His estimated net worth is around $6.7 million, considering his involvement in other ventures, such as a YouTube channel.
5. N0tail (Dota 2)
At the very top of our list is the legendary Big Daddy himself: N0tail. He’s the richest Dota player of all time, boasting $7.1 million in earnings, although his former OG teammates aren’t far behind. In fact, the 20 wealthiest esports players of all time are all from the Dota scene, with the top five all having donned the OG jersey, which secured back-to-back victories in International tournaments in 2018 and 2019.
Dota players have the highest potential earnings thanks to the incredible prize pools at The International, unmatched by any other eSport. At TI9, the prize pool reached a staggering $34 million, ensuring that even fifth place made you an instant millionaire.
Even players who haven’t clinched a TI title find themselves among the richest in esports. For example, Arteezy ranks 30th in earnings, despite never winning a TI or Valve Major. As for N0tail, who has twice cashed the largest checks in the sport and consistently excels in other tournaments, his true net worth is undoubtedly even higher. Certainly high enough to afford luxuries like his new villa in Portugal.
His estimated net worth surpasses $8 million.