Who Are the Richest eSports Players in the World?

Amelia Thompson

Casino expert

Updated:
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.

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.