Highest Paid eSports Players: Ranked by Overall Earnings [2024]

As the esports industry continues its meteoric rise, the spotlight increasingly falls on the players at its pinnacle. The year 2024 has seen record-breaking earnings and fierce competition, underscoring the growing professionalization and lucrative opportunities within the sector.

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Rank	Name	Game	Team	Country	Earnings
1	N0tail	Dota 2	Free agent	Denmark	$7,184,163.05
2	JerAx	Dota 2	Free agent	Finland	$6,486,623.98
3	ana	Dota 2	Free agent	Australia	$6,024,411.96
4	Ceb	Dota 2	OG	France	$5,900,842.73
5	Topson	Dota 2	Tundra	Finland	$5,726,841.20
6	Miposhka	Dota 2	Team Spirit	Russia	$5,653,952.09
7	Yatoro	Dota 2	Team Spirit	Ukraine	$5,425,553.55
8	Collapse	Dota 2	Team Spirit	Russia	$5,421,791.67
9	Mira	Dota 2	Team Spirit	Ukraine	$5,407,579.65
10	KuroKy	Dota 2	Nigma Galaxy	Germany	$5,291,422.93

This article delves into the highest paid esports players, offering a ranked overview of their overall earnings. From strategic masterminds in multiplayer arenas to sharpshooters in first-person shooters, these top earners are not just gaming icons but also pioneers in the evolving world of competitive gaming.

Highest Paid eSports Players

1. N0tail

Overall Earnings: $7,184,163.05

Game: Dota 2

Team: Free agent

Country: Denmark

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein is a celebrated Dota 2 player from Denmark, best known for his leadership and strategic gameplay. As a key figure in esports, his career is highlighted by significant achievements and contributions to his teams’ successes, earning him a respected status within the gaming community. His exceptional career achievements include multiple wins at The International. His global recognition and appeal in the esports community, combined with a compelling personal journey from a passionate gamer to a leading esports icon, present a compelling narrative for brand associations. Johan “N0tail” Sundstein transitioned from Heroes of Newerth to Dota 2 with Fnatic, achieving early success including a win at Thor Open LAN. Despite challenges at The International events in 2013 and 2014, he co-founded Team Secret, later joining Cloud9, and eventually formed (monkey) Business, which became OG. N0tail led OG to historic wins at The International 2018 and 2019, becoming the first team to win the tournament consecutively. His achievements earned him a spot in Forbes 30 under 30 at 25.

2. JerAx

Overall Earnings: $6,486,623.98

Game: Dota 2

Team: Free agent

Country: Finland

Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka is a renowned Finnish Dota 2 player, celebrated for his strategic play and significant contributions to his teams’ victories. He’s best known for winning The International in 2018 and 2019, among other major tournaments, marking him as one of the most successful players in the esports arena. JerAx’s story of perseverance, combined with his Finnish background, offers a unique narrative for brands aiming to connect on a personal level with the esports community. His appeal extends across various demographic groups, making him a versatile figure for marketing campaigns targeting tech-savvy consumers, gaming enthusiasts, and those inspired by personal achievement stories in the digital age.

3. ana

Overall Earnings: $6,024,411.96

Game: Dota 2

Team: Free agent

Country: Australia

Anathan “ana” Pham is an Australian Dota 2 player known for his remarkable skills and contributions to his team’s success. He has been a crucial part of victories in major tournaments, including The International, where his performances have left a lasting impact on the esports scene. Anathan “ana” Pham initially played as a solo mid with less success and faced criticism for his performance in that role. Before The International 2018, he shifted to a carry role, making way for Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen as solo mid, significantly contributing to OG’s success. Ana innovated a carry Io strategy that was pivotal at The International 2019. Known for his exceptional game sense, ana is celebrated as one of the top carry and overall Dota 2 players. His career is also notable for taking extended breaks from professional play, which is uncommon in the rapidly evolving Dota 2 competitive scene.

4. Ceb

Overall Earnings: $5,900,842.73

Game: Dota 2

Team: OG

Country: France

Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, celebrated for his role in Dota 2 team OG, has significantly influenced the esports scene. Starting in 2011, his journey saw ups and downs, leading to OG’s success at The International. Ceb won The International in 2018 and 2019 with OG, marking significant achievements in his Dota 2 career. These victories positioned OG as the first team to win The International back-to-back. Ceb’s innovative strategies and gameplay have earned him legendary status. After retiring as a player, he returned, contributing to OG’s development and making a notable comeback. 

5. Topson

Overall Earnings: $5,726,841.20

Game: Dota 2

Team: Tundra

Country: Finland

Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, hailing from Finland, is a prominent Dota 2 player known for his significant earnings and contributions to his team’s successes in the competitive scene. He started playing Defense of the Ancients at the age of eight. Despite his parents’ initial skepticism about a career in gaming, Taavitsainen’s success in winning tournaments eventually won their approval. Taavitsainen’s early career in esports involved playing for lower-tier teams without significant success until 2017, when he joined SFT e-sports, marking his entry into high-tier competitive gaming. His performance in European region streaming, where he achieved top MMR, led to his recruitment by OG in 2018. Taavitsainen’s big break came when OG, facing the loss of three key players and thus ineligible for a direct invite to The International 2018, took him on board despite his lack of major LAN event experience. Starting from the open qualifiers, OG and Taavitsainen made a remarkable run through The International 2018, ultimately winning the championship and over $11 million in prize money in what was considered a Cinderella story of underdog success. Continuing their success, OG, with Taavitsainen, also won The International 2019, where he was named MVP. Despite criticisms of his unconventional playstyle and being considered a weaker middle laner prior to The International 2018, Taavitsainen’s selfless gameplay, focused on creating space for his team, has proven effective and contributed to his team’s achievements.

6. Miposhka

Overall Earnings: $5,653,952.09

Game: Dota 2

Team: Team Spirit

Country: Russia

Yaroslav Naidenov, widely recognized in the Dota 2 community as “Miposhka,” embarked on his professional Dota career with Yellow Submarine in 2015, aiming for The International 2015 European Open Qualifiers. He gained significant attention at The International 2017, marking his first TI appearance, where as the youthful captain of Team Empire, he led a stunning 2-0 lower bracket victory over Evil Geniuses, even with a stand-in player. Miposhka’s journey saw him moving through teams like Team Singularity and HellRaisers before returning to Yellow Submarine. This team was later signed by Team Spirit in December 2020 for the Dota Pro Circuit. Under Miposhka’s captaincy, Team Spirit clinched the Aegis of Champions at The International 10, overcoming a challenging start to make a remarkable lower-bracket run on the main stage. Miposhka’s leadership and strategic acumen were pivotal in Team Spirit’s victories at The International 2021 and The International 2023, earning him the distinction of being a two-time TI winner alongside teammates Yatoro, Collapse, Mira, and coach Silent. Despite holding the record for the highest average deaths per game (8.38) at The International 2017, Miposhka’s resilience and skill have cemented his status as a formidable figure in the Dota 2 esports arena.

7. Yatoro

Overall Earnings: $5,425,553.55

Game: Dota 2

Team: Team Spirit

Country: Ukraine

Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, born on March 12, 2003, is a celebrated Ukrainian Dota 2 player for Team Spirit. Known for his versatility and high skill level, Yatoro achieved the remarkable milestone of reaching 11,000 MMR on April 19, 2021, and further elevated his status by hitting 12,000 MMR on November 7, 2021. His adaptability was on full display during The International 10, where he played an impressive array of 14 different heroes across 20 games, contributing significantly to Team Spirit’s championship victory. These heroes included Chaos Knight, Morphling, Juggernaut, and many others. Yatoro has the distinction of being a two-time TI winner, securing victories at The International 2021 and The International 2023 alongside teammates Collapse, Mira, Miposhka, and coach Silent. His ritual of shaving his head during The International 2021, which became known as the “Yatoro buff” or “bald buff,” became a symbolic act of determination, influencing other players in subsequent tournaments to emulate the gesture, though with mixed results.

8. Collapse

Overall Earnings: $5,421,791.67

Game: Dota 2

Team: Team Spirit

Country: Russia

Magomed Khalilov, better known in the Dota 2 community as “Collapse,” is a professional player with significant earnings of $5,421,791.67, highlighting his success and impact in the esports arena. His professional break came in 2017 when he reached 6000 MMR and formed an amateur team, leading to participation in smaller tournaments and the Russian Esports Cup. Collapse’s significant leap into professional Dota 2 occurred with his invitation to Cascade, where he played for 8 months, earning a salary for the first time and gradually gaining his parents’ support. Collapse’s skill level became evident through his performances in various tournaments and qualifiers. This caught the attention of Korb3n, the coach of Yellow Submarine, who integrated Collapse into a team with notable players like TORONTOTOKYO, Yatoro, and Miposhka. This pivotal moment potentially diverted Collapse from quitting Dota 2, as he had contemplated focusing on a medical college education.The end of 2020 marked a turning point for Collapse when Team Spirit acquired the Yellow Submarine roster. Known for his exceptional play as an offlaner and signature heroes such as Mars, Magnus, and Timbersaw, Collapse played a vital role in Team Spirit’s achievements. 

9. Mira

Overall Earnings: $5,407,579.65

Game: Dota 2

Team: Team Spirit

Country: Ukraine

Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov is a professional Dota 2 player with impressive earnings of $5,407,579.65, indicating his significant impact and success within the esports scene. Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov, known as Mira in the Dota 2 community, joined Team Spirit in February 2021, becoming the final piece of their championship-winning roster for The International 10. Initially joining on loan from Cascade, Mira replaced the player so bad and quickly established himself as a key contributor to the team’s success. Mira has the distinction of being a two-time winner of The International, with victories in both 2021 and 2023 alongside teammates Yatoro, Collapse, Miposhka, and coach Silent. Mira is particularly noted for his exceptional support play, leading the 2021 DPC EEU Upper Division Season 2 and the 2021/22 Tour 1 in average assists per game, with 16.63 and 14.60 respectively. His high level of team play and ability to assist his teammates has made him an invaluable asset to Team Spirit, contributing to their international success and his own significant earnings from competitive Dota 2.

10. KuroKy

Overall Earnings: $5,291,422.93

Game: Dota 2

Team: Nigma Galaxy

Country: Germany

Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi is a distinguished Dota 2 player with earnings totaling $5,291,422.93, reflecting his successful career in the competitive scene. His early career in DotA featured stints with German teams and international exposure with mousesports. A notable partnership with Puppey began here, leading to significant roles in teams like Ks.int. Transitioning to Dota 2, KuroKy debuted at The International 2011 and experienced early challenges but steadily built his reputation, leading to a pivotal role in Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) in 2013, achieving high finishes including second at The International 2013. Post-Na’Vi, KuroKy co-founded Team Secret in 2014, showcasing versatility between carry and support roles but faced an early exit at The International 2015. He then captained the newly formed 5Jungz, which became Team Liquid, leading to notable victories including The International 2017, marking KuroKy’s pinnacle achievement. His journey reflects resilience, adaptability, and leadership, solidifying his legacy in the Dota 2 community.