Top 100 Highest Paid Esports Players in the World in 2024

We all remember our parents saying “stop playing video games, that won’t make you any money!”.

Well in some cases, they were wrong as beyond fame and recognition, the greatest esports champions have accumulated millions of dollars in earnings through tournaments and social media partnerships.

Here is an overview of the highest paid esports players on the planet.

Complete Ranking of the Top 100 Highest Earning Esports Players

With the growing popularity of esports, many players have turned pro and some have really amassed a small fortune as you will see in this ranking of the 100 esports players who have won the most prize money in tournaments.

We can see a clear domination of Dota 2 players in this ranking, occupying 80 spots in the top 100. Counter-Strike and League of Legends champions share most of the remaining places.

Skyrocketing Prize Pools Attract Massive Crowds

The overwhelming presence of Dota 2 players among the top earners comes as no surprise. This game holds the record for the most lucrative esports tournament, with its annual Internationals boasting prize pools exceeding $30 million.

But this Valve title is far from being the only one turning heads. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike are also drawing in more and more spectators, driving up prize money accordingly.

This increase in earnings contributes to the professionalization of esports, allowing more players to fully live off their passion.

At the same time, new games like Valorant and Wild Rift are also hosting increasingly competitive tournaments, with prize pools rivaling those of their predecessors. There’s no doubt that these titles will soon be represented in the top 100 highest-paid esports players.

However, tournament winnings are not the only source of income for esports pros who, like “traditional” athletes, can also rake in big bucks through social media and sponsorships.

Esports Stars Shining on Social Media

With ever-growing fan communities, professional players are also seeing their influence expand on social media. Many are taking advantage of this to partner with brands or launch their own ventures.

One of the most striking examples is Tyler “Ninja” Blevins. The Fortnite king is now one of the most popular streamers in the world. He owes his success to his showmanship, but also to his omnipresence across all platforms:

• Twitch
• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram…

Each of his appearances is an opportunity to boost his notoriety and generate profits.

Many players are now following in his footsteps.

So while it’s true that seeing all this can make your head spin and make a career in esports tempting, be careful – it’s a very closed field where only the best can succeed.

Making a Career in Esports, a Dream Come True

While it’s tempting to jump into a professional gaming career when seeing these staggering amounts, keep in mind that only a tiny minority manage to make a living from their passion. The sacrifices are many and the competition is fierce to reach the top.

That doesn’t stop esports from developing at breakneck speed, with more and more tournaments, spectators, and sponsors. And the stars of the discipline still have bright days ahead of them, with increasingly large winnings at stake. Enough to motivate future generations to try their luck in this booming electronic sport.

A Booming Ecosystem Pushing the Limits

In short, with growing financial stakes and media exposure, esports continues its transformation to become an ecosystem as powerful as traditional sports. And this is probably just the beginning.

New professions are becoming professionalized around competitions: coaches, analysts, commentators, journalists, agents… So many opportunities that contribute to the maturity of this thriving industry. Publishers have caught on and are competing creatively to create the most attractive and well-endowed circuits.