According to Newzoo, a market research company specializing in esports, the global esports market is expected to generate over $1.5 billion in revenue in 2021, with over 600 million esports enthusiasts worldwide. This growth in popularity has led to a rise in the amount of money that is being generated in the industry, both through sponsorships and prize pools.
So, which esports make the most money? Here is a list of the top five highest-earning esports, based on prize pool data from Esports Earnings:
- League of Legends (LoL) is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Riot Games. It is one of the most popular esports games, with a massive following and professional leagues in various regions around the world. In 2021, the prize pool for the League of Legends World Championship was $2.25 million, with the winning team taking home $1 million. Individual players in top LoL teams can also earn significant salaries and sponsorships
- Dota 2 is another MOBA game developed by Valve Corporation. It has a massive following and a lucrative professional scene, with the Dota 2 International tournament having a prize pool of over $40 million in 2021. The winning team took home over $11 million, with individual players also earning significant salaries and sponsorships.
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a first-person shooter game developed by Valve Corporation. It has a strong professional scene and several major tournaments throughout the year, including the FACEIT London Major, which had a prize pool of $1 million in 2018. Top CS:GO players can earn significant salaries and sponsorships from teams and brands
- Overwatch is a team-based first-person shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It has a professional league, the Overwatch League, which features teams from cities around the world. The Overwatch League had a total prize pool of $5 million in 2021, with the winning team taking home $1.5 million. Individual players can also earn significant salaries and sponsorships.
- Fortnite is a battle royale game developed by Epic Games. It has a massive player base and a thriving competitive scene, with several major tournaments throughout the year. In 2021, the Fortnite World Cup had a prize pool of $30 million, with the winning player taking home $3 million. Individual players can also earn significant amounts of money through sponsorships and streaming.
- Call of Duty is a first-person shooter game developed by Activision. It has a professional league, the Call of Duty League, which features teams from cities around the world. The Call of Duty League had a total prize pool of $6 million in 2021, with the winning team taking home $1.5 million. Individual players can also earn significant salaries and sponsorships.
- Halo is a first-person shooter game developed by 343 Industries. It has a professional league, the Halo Championship Series, which features teams from around the world. The Halo Championship Series had a total prize pool of $1 million in 2021, with the winning team taking home $500,000. Individual players can also earn significant salaries and sponsorships.
- Rocket League is a soccer-like game played with rocket-powered cars developed by Psyonix. It has a professional league, the Rocket League Championship Series, which features teams from around the world. The Rocket League Championship Series had a total prize pool of $1 million in 2021, with the winning team taking home $500,000. Individual players can also earn significant salaries and sponsorships.
It is worth noting that these figures only include prize money and do not take into account other sources of income for professional esports players, such as sponsorships and streaming revenue. Some of the highest-earning esports players have made millions of dollars through these additional sources of income.
In conclusion, Dota 2, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Overwatch are the top five highest-earning esports based on prize pool data. These games have large and dedicated player bases and offer lucrative professional leagues and tournaments. While prize money is a significant source of income for professional esports players, it is not the only source, and many players are able to generate significant additional income through sponsorships and streaming.
Tags:
eSports