Esports are gaining traction in the entertainment industry, and the value is being noticed around the world. In 2019, more than $216 million was earned in prize money, and if those trends are anything to go by, the numbers are only going to rise. Esports have migrated away from dark bedrooms and into state-of-the-art gaming facilities; celebrities like Drake, Will Smith, and Michael Jordan have invested in the growing industry, and several others will inevitably follow.
But what players are making the most money?
Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf made history at 16 years old when he won $3 million in the first Fortnite World Cup in 2019. He made more than Novak Djokovic was awarded for winning Wimbledon in the same year. Bugha also made more than Tiger Woods did for winning the Masters. However, despite winning such a huge prize, Bugha doesn’t even break into the Top 10 of the highest earners in esports.
The industry has transformed into a global phenomenon. Out of the top 100 earners, only 10% are American. 29% of the top earners are from China. According to the latest figures from EsportsEarnings, you can find the top-earning players from 2019 below:
Top 10 Highest Earners in Esports
N0tail (Johan Sundstein) – $6,890,591
JerAx (Jesse Vainikka) – $6,470,000
Ana (Anathan Pham) – $6,000,411
Ceb (Sébastien Debs) – $5,489,233
Topson (Topias Taavitsainen) – $5,414,446
KuroKy (Kuro Takhasomi) – $5,128,788
Miracle- (Amer Al-Barkawi – $4,692,418
MinD ContRoL (Ivan Ivanov) – $4,483,493
GH (Maroun Merhej) – $4,086,426
SumaiL (Sumail Hassan) – $3,591,225
Top Paying Games
Dota 2 – $219,095,635
Counter Strike: Global Offensive – $87,119,453
Fortnite – $84,420,164
League of Legends – $73,091,646
Starcraft II: $32,137,196
Top 10 Players in 2019
JerAx (Jesse Vainikka) – $3,163,536
Ceb (Sébastien Debs) – $3,163,536
Topson (Topias Taavitsainen) – $3,163,536
N0tail (Johan Sundstein) – $3,163,536
Ana (Anathan Pham) – $3,163,536
Bugha (Kyle Giersdorf) – $3,061,716
Psalm (Harrison Chang) – $1,819,300
Aqua (David Wang) – $1,790,036
Nyhrox (Emil Bergquist Pedersen) – $1,509,516
EpikWhale (Shane Cotton) – $1,297,366
More than $700 million has been paid out in prize winnings throughout the different titles in esports so far. With more people becoming involved, esports will continue to thrive. Franchised esports titles like Overwatch and Call of Duty help promote longevity in player careers. In addition, more college leagues and programs are being developed. Currently, there are over 120 colleges and universities offering esports programs in the United States. Big money equals big opportunities, and the growth is just beginning for the esports industry.
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Source: https://www.dualshockers.com/esports-players-made-more-than-216-million-in-2019/
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