If you took a time machine and went back just a few decades, telling people they could earn a living playing video games, they would laugh at you. Now, it’s a norm. The upcoming eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia will feature a record-breaking $60 million prize pool, which is simply incredible.
Spending massively on cash prizes isn’t new to the esports world. The most prominent players in the gaming scene have spent fortunes rewarding their champions over the years.
Which has spent the most? That’s precisely what we’ll delve into as we explore the highest paying eSports of all time.
Let’s get started!
Contents
1. Dota 2
- Total Prize Pool: $347,499,431.04
- Number of Players: 4,875
- Number of Tournaments: 1,895
Dota 2 sits at the top of the summit regarding the highest paying esports tournaments. A cumulative prize pool of over $300 million has seen to this feat. Its tournaments are always a spectacle and would see viewership in the millions.
Fans flock to see their favorite players take on equally skilled opponents for the tag of the champion and that converted prize money.
In 2021, the International, Dota 2’s premier tournament, offered a prize pool of over $40 million, the highest since the game launched in 2013.
Held annually, the International attracts the world’s most skilled Dota 2 players and enjoys a massive global fanbase. Southeast Asia, China, and Europe, to name a few, are some of the stronghold regions of this fantastic franchise.
2. Fortnite
- Total Prize Pool: $180,177,540.57
- Number of Players: 9,260
- Number of Tournaments: 2,178
Fortnite is an exciting game from Epic Studios that is beloved for its unique battle royale format. This mode places 100 players against each other, with the goal being to be the last player or team standing. Fortnight is synonymous with the battle royale genre and enjoys widespread appeal, even contributing multiple elements to pop culture, like its dance moves and metaverse concerts.
The esports scene is no different, as its tournaments are renowned for offering bank-breaking sums as rewards. In 2023, the Fortnite World Cup recorded a total prize pool of around $30 million, with the then 16-year-old champion Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf walking home with $3 million from that payout.
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Total Prize Pool: $162,323,811.64
- Number of Players: 16,433
- Number of Tournaments: 6,976
CS: GO is arguably the biggest juggernaut and highest paying esports game in the competitive first-person shooter genre. It burst into our rankings with a lifetime prize pool of over $162 million from about 6,900 tournaments.
Some of its tournaments, like the Major Championships, are fiercely competitive and equally rewarding. They contribute considerably to the game’s total prize pool, featuring top teams worldwide that leave the playing fields with multi-million dollar payouts.
Despite Counter-Strike 2 launching towards the end of 2023 as the successor to CS: GO, the latter will always have an enduring legacy in the esports world thanks to helping shape the industry into what we have today.
4. League of Legends
- Total Prize Pool: $109,390,707.19
- Number of Players: 9,441
- Number of Tournaments: 2,953
League of Legends (LoL), the Titan itself, comes in surprisingly at 4th place with almost $110 million in payouts. This three-time Best ESports Game of the Year award winner arguably popularized the MOBA genre and has a monthly active player base of 100 million players.
Its annual World Championship is the most prestigious event in LoL esports, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. In 2018, the recorded total prize money for this event was over $6 million, and the famous Invictus Gaming team finished as its champions.
LoL’s regional leagues are also a powerhouse, pulling in hundreds of thousands in viewership. These leagues, like the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) in North America and the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), serve as preparatory grounds for players aiming for the World Championship.
5. Arena of Valor
- Total Prize Pool: $89,642,579.50
- Number of Players: 2,121
- Number of Tournaments: 170
Think LoL, but mobile. Arena of Valor brings to your smartphone screens the immersive, action-packed MOBA gaming style synonymous with League of Legends. You’d think that’s where the similarities stop, but no, AoV also brings the bank to the professional gaming scene.
It enjoys a massive fanbase from Southeast Asia, with the region having its game version. This version, Honor of Kings, actually supersedes Arena of Valor. The latter was only developed as an international adaptation by the TiMi Studio Group.
6. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Mobile
- Total Prize Pool: $80,713,837.94
- Number of Players: 4,102
- Number of Tournaments: 324
For years, the debate has always been about PC Gaming vs Console Gaming (Yes, we know, the console gaming wars). However, the success of PUBG Mobile has added more credence to including Mobile Gaming as the new contender.
PUBG Mobile surpassed the 9 billion gross mark as far back as 2022, and some of this revenue has found its way to its esports players. How much? $81 million. It enjoys a broad global audience with regions like India and China.
7. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Total Prize Pool: $60,638,228.19
- Number of Players: 3,888
- Number of Tournaments: 612
PUBG ignited the battle royale craze with its strategic, survival-based gameplay. With a prize pool exceeding $60 million across over 600, PUBG remains a heavyweight in the esports arena.
Its influence extends beyond gameplay, shaping the landscape of modern esports and demonstrating the genre’s potential for engaging in large-scale competitive events.
8. Rainbow Six Siege
- Total Prize Pool: $45,378,331.52
- Number of Players: 3,067
- Number of Tournaments: 565
An actual tactical shooter makes its way into our list in the form of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. Never has teamwork been so dominant on the competitive scene, creating a breath of fresh air for esports fans all over. This isn’t to say you won’t find those sporadic matches where an individual hyper-carries his team to victory.
In its just concluded tournament, which had viewership peaking at over half a million concurrent viewers, organizers deputed the Rainbow Six Siege Data Portal (R6DP). This system allowed players and coaches to get in-depth in-game data analytics of matches, bringing tactical play to a new level.
9. StarCraft II
- Total Prize Pool: $41,221,526.66
- Number of Players: 2,270
- Number of Tournaments: 7,398
Rocket into the realm of StarCraft II, a game that has sculpted the landscape of modern esports! With a staggering cumulative prize pool of over $41 million, this real-time strategy sensation is not just a game—it’s a cultural phenomenon, especially in South Korea.
Here, StarCraft II is more than entertainment; it’s a competitive sport that draws massive crowds and the brightest strategic minds. This franchise single-handedly laid the foundations for the region’s interest and success in competitive gaming.
10. Rocket League
- Total Prize Pool: $37,926,845.77
- Number of Players: 5,716
- Number of Tournaments: 4,142
Nobody can understand what the folks at Psyonix were thinking when they decided to combine soccer and fast cars, but we thank them for it. This unlikely combination has brought an experience that transcends generations, making for a more family-friendly pick on our list. Every match is a spectacle of thrilling aerial goals, dribbles, and saves. So, it’s unsurprising that it’s one of the highest paying esports games in history.
11. Overwatch
- Total Prize Pool: $35,259,225.38
- Number of Players: 4,047
- Number of Tournaments: 847
Overwatch, the OG triple-time champion of the esports game of the year awards. Before LoL and now Valorant, Overwatch dominated the professional gaming scene and beyond. It took gamers into an action-packed world where heroes battle in dynamic team clashes.
Overwatch shines with its revolutionary Overwatch League, the first major city-based esports league that unites fans around their hometown heroes. Its 2023 edition featured a prize money of over $4.7 million.
As we’ve explored the highest paying esports tournaments, it’s clear that the industry is not just about playing games but the thrill, strategy, and substantial rewards. These games have set the stage for a future where esports continues to evolve and expand.
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