Who Are the Richest eSports Players in the World?

Amelia ThompsonWritten by Amelia Thompson
Amelia Thompson
Author
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Richest eSports Players in the World

We thought it would be interesting to find who the richest esports players in the world are and how much they have earned. So we did exactly that.

The complete list of the 50 richest esports players in the world

Rank Player Name Player ID Country Total Earnings Game
1 Johan Sundstein N0tail Denmark $7,184,163.05 Dota 2
2 Jesse Vainikka JerAx Finland $6,486,948.78 Dota 2
3 Anathan Pham ana Australia $6,024,411.96 Dota 2
4 Sébastien Debs Ceb France $5,823,909.40 Dota 2
5 Topias Taavitsainen Topson Finland $5,698,989.00 Dota 2
6 Kuro Takhasomi KuroKy Germany $5,281,147.73 Dota 2
7 Amer Al-Barkawi Miracle- Jordan $4,882,085.26 Dota 2
8 Lasse Urpalainen Matumbaman Finland $4,873,411.04 Dota 2
9 Ivan Ivanov MinD_ContRoL Bulgaria $4,665,159.74 Dota 2
10 Maroun Merhej GH Lebanon $4,279,454.27 Dota 2
11 Yaroslav Naidenov Miposhka Russian Federation $4,228,079.69 Dota 2
12 Clement Ivanov Puppey Estonia $4,219,172.80 Dota 2
13 Magomed Khalilov Collapse Russian Federation $3,995,919.27 Dota 2
14 Ilya Mulyarchuk Yatoro Ukraine $3,994,681.15 Dota 2
15 Alexander Khertek TORONTOTOKYO Russian Federation $3,990,373.90 Dota 2
16 Miroslaw Kolpakov Mira Ukraine $3,981,707.25 Dota 2
17 Wang, Chunyu Ame China $3,912,904.27 Dota 2
18 Sumail Hassan SumaiL Pakistan $3,885,089.31 Dota 2
19 Zhang, Ruida Faith_bian China $3,847,426.86 Dota 2
20 Zhang, Yiping y` China $3,771,987.28 Dota 2
21 Ludwig Wåhlberg Zai Sweden $3,658,271.02 Dota 2
22 Kyle Giersdorf Bugha United States $3,499,661.72 Fortnite
23 Lu, Yao Somnus China $3,266,951.12 Dota 2
24 Saahil Arora UNiVeRsE United States $3,057,237.67 Dota 2
25 Xu, Linsen fy China $3,052,133.05 Dota 2
26 Martin Sazdov Saksa North Macedonia $3,051,041.78 Dota 2
27 Peter Dager ppd United States $3,029,331.36 Dota 2
28 Gustav Magnusson s4 Sweden $2,743,953.74 Dota 2
29 Tal Aizik Fly Isreal $2,699,698.46 Dota 2
30 Artour Babaev Arteezy Canada $2,572,917.71 Dota 2
31 Clinton Loomis Fear United States $2,564,313.19 Dota 2
32 Hu, Liangzhi KaKa China $2,437,664.19 Dota 2
33 Andreas Nielsen Cr1t Denmark $2,323,580.71 Dota 2
34 Neta Shapira 33 Isreal $2,303,837.63 Dota 2
35 Yazied Jaradat YapzOr Jordan $2,297,190.64 Dota 2
36 Aliwi Omar w33 Romania $2,294,025.43 Dota 2
37 Michał Jankowski Nisha Poland $2,289,552.28 Dota 2
38 Jing Jun Wu Sneyking United States $2,274,214.45 Dota 2
39 David Wang Aqua Austria $2,179,824.23 Fortnite
40 Roman Fominok Resolut1on Ukraine $2,062,283.45 Dota 2
41 Peter Rasmussen dupreeh Denmark $2,038,331.07 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
42 Yap, Jianwei xNova Malaysia $2,034,785.72 Dota 2
43 Kurtis Ling Aui_2000 Canada $2,008,582.54 Dota 2
44 Li, Peng iceice China $2,002,159.51 Dota 2
45 Yang, Shenyi Chalice China $1,994,542.62 Dota 2
46 Andreas Højsleth Xyp9x Denmark $1,993,150.13 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
47 Chu Zeyu Shadow China $1,982,225.70 Dota 2
48 Zhou Yang bLink China $1,960,956.47 Dota 2
49 Harrison Chang psalm United States $1,959,500.00 Fortnite
50 Nicolai Reedtz dev1ce Denmark $1,932,754.30 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Ranking the top 50 richest eSports players – the methodology

Obviously, the main factor was their combined earnings, and thus, this is the main guideline for our top. We’ve also investigated which games brought this level of fortune to the players. Although players from European countries dominate this rich list, there are gamers from all corners of the globe, including the United States, Australia, China, and Russia.

Who is the richest esports player in the world?

The richest esports player is Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein who has won $7,184,163.05 in tournament earnings throughout his career.

He – alongside 44 of the 50 wealthiest players in the world – has earned his prize money by competing in Dota 2 tournaments, an online multiplier battle-arena game released in 2013.

Leading top 10 eSports players with massive earnings

Rank Player Name Player ID Country Total Earnings Game
1 Johan Sundstein N0tail Denmark $7,184,163.05 Dota 2
2 Jesse Vainikka JerAx Finland $6,486,948.78 Dota 2
3 Anathan Pham ana Australia $6,024,411.96 Dota 2
4 Sébastien Debs Ceb France $5,823,909.40 Dota 2
5 Topias Taavitsainen Topson Finland $5,698,989.00 Dota 2
6 Kuro Takhasomi KuroKy Germany $5,281,147.73 Dota 2
7 Amer Al-Barkawi Miracle- Jordan $4,882,085.26 Dota 2
8 Lasse Urpalainen Matumbaman Finland $4,873,411.04 Dota 2
9 Ivan Ivanov MinD_ContRoL Bulgaria $4,665,159.74 Dota 2
10 Maroun Merhej GH Lebanon $4,279,454.27 Dota 2

What differentiates the top 10 richest eSports players from the rest?

Besides the obvious large sums that make up their total earnings, these players also have the most exposure and are renowned in their specific communities.

Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein – Total earnings: $7,184,163.05

Topping the rich list is Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein. Hailing from Denmark, the 29-year-old has amassed total winnings of $7,184,163 from 130 tournaments in Dota 2.

Almost half of this was earned during The International Tournament in 2019, where his team ‘OG’ – of which he is a co-founder – placed first, thus collecting $3,124,036 in prize money.

Amongst his accomplishments, he’s had the honour of gracing the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2018 in the ‘Games’ category.

Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka – Total earnings: $6,486,948.78

In second place is Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka. The 30-year-old from Finland has earned a total of $6,486,948 throughout his Dota 2 career.

As part of team OG and a teammate of N0tail, JerAx played an important part in The International 2019 tournament, which won him $3,124,036 in prize money.

Anathan ‘ana’ Pham – Total earnings: $6,024,411.96

In third place is 23-year-old Australian gamer Anathan ‘ana’ Pham.

The man from down under has competed in 26 tournaments, winning two major championship tournaments along the way and back-to-back.

The International wins in 2018 and 2019 with team OG – the latter of which was his biggest payday. ana has since retired from competitive gameplay.

Sébastien ‘Ceb’ Debs – Total earnings: $5,823,909.40

The fourth richest esports player in the world is Sébastien ‘Ceb’ Debs.

The former OG team member has played in 67 tournaments and earned a total of $5,823,909 in prize money.

Much like the first three players on this list, the French player’s biggest payout was in 2019 after winning first place in The International tournament.

Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen – Total earnings: $5,698,989.00

Closing out the top five is the second-richest Finnish player on this list, Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen.

The 24-year-old has earned $5,698,989 from 33 tournaments in Dota 2 and was a member of team OG between 2018 and 2022.

Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi – Total earnings: $5,281,147.73

In sixth place is Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi. The 30-year-old German has played in 126 tournaments and amassed total earnings of $5,281,147.

He won a large chunk of his earnings in 2017 when his team placed first in The International tournament, resulting in $2,172,536.60 in prize money.

Although Dota 2 is his bread and butter – accounting for 99.97% of his earnings – he’s also won cash prizes through competing in Artifact Classic and Defence of the Ancients.

Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi – Total earnings: $4,882,085.26

Seventh on this list is Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi.

The 25-year-old Jordanian has collected $4,882,085.26 in earnings from 77 tournaments – the biggest being $2,172,536.60 after winning The International in 2017 alongside KuroKy.

Lasse “Matumbaman” Urpalaine – Total earnings: $4,873,411.04

In at eighth is 27-year-old Lasse “Matumbaman” Urpalaine.

Hailing from Finland, Matumbaman has made his money competing in Dota 2, earning a total of $4,873,411.04 across 87 tournaments.

He is most known for his time with Team Liquid, where he was teammates with KuroKy and Miracle-.

Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov – Total earnings: $4,665,159.74

Ninth on this list is Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov.

From Bulgaria, the 28-year-old has collected $4,665,159.74 in earnings from 87 tournaments.

He is best known for his stint with Team Liquid which earned him his biggest payday in 2017 when they won The International.

Maroun “GH” Merhej – Total earnings: $4,279,454.27

Closing out this top 10 list is another 2017 The International winner, Maroun “GH” Merhej.

The 27-year-old Lebanese player has accumulated $4,279,454.27 from 66 cash-paying tournaments.

What is the most popular game for the richest esports players?

That title would have to go to Dota 2. All the top 21 ranking players have mainly earned their income through Dota 2.

The only other games that appear on the top 50 list are Fortnite and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – of which there are only six players.

Who is the richest Fortnite player?

The richest Fortnite player is 20-year-old American Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf.

Throughout his career thus far, he has earned $3,499,661.72 in prize money, placing him in 22nd place for the richest in the world.

Who is the richest Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player?

Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen is the richest Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player, with $2,038,331.07 in tournament earnings.

This makes the 29-year-old Finnish gamer the 41st richest esports player in the world.

Richest eSports players – top facts

  • Esports tournaments bring in hundreds of millions of viewers each year. With that many eyeballs on the sport, there is serious money to be made.
  • Even major brands such as Coca-Cola, BMW, and Red Bull have all gotten involved via sponsorships, looking to get a piece of the pie.
  • As such, the winners of these tournaments can earn mouth-watering amounts – sometimes receiving up to eight-figure payouts.
  • Through gaming, professional players can now become millionaires.
  • Most of the richest esports players have all made their money through Dota 2, a game first released in 2013.
  • Danish 29-year-old Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein tops this list with earnings of $7,184,163 through tournament wins.