Esports prize pools continue to grow, but Dota 2's massive The International events have created a tier of players whose career earnings dwarf most others. Data is based on public tournament winnings tracked by sites like Esports Earnings and Esports Charts (as of mid-June 2026). Note: These figures represent prize money only and do not include salaries, sponsorships, or streaming income.
Key Context:
• Dota 2 dominates all-time earnings due to record-breaking TI prize pools.
• 2026 has seen strong performances in CS2, Call of Duty, and other titles.
• A single major win can propel players up the yearly rankings.
All-Time Top Earners (Career Prize Money)
The all-time leaderboard remains heavily dominated by Dota 2 veterans, many from legendary OG and Team Spirit rosters.
| Rank |
Player |
Game |
Total Earnings |
| 1 |
N0tail (Johan Sundstein) |
Dota 2 |
$7,184,163 |
| 2 |
JerAx (Jesse Vainikka) |
Dota 2 |
$6,486,624 |
| 3 |
Miposhka (Yaroslav Naidenov) |
Dota 2 |
$6,250,135 |
| 4 |
ana (Anathan Pham) |
Dota 2 |
$6,024,412 |
| 5 |
Yatoro (Ilya Mulyarchuk) |
Dota 2 |
$5,990,099 |
Other notables include Ceb, Topson, and KuroKy — all Dota 2 stars with multi-million dollar careers. Outside Dota 2, players like Bugha (Fortnite), aBeZy (Call of Duty), and ZywOo (CS) lead their respective games but sit well below the Dota 2 top tier in pure prize money.
2026 Top Earners So Far (Yearly)
As of mid-2026, standout performances in major events (including potential big wins at events like Esports World Cup) have shaped the yearly list. A mystery/high-profile winner "Sahara" leads early with a massive individual payout.
| Rank |
Player |
Game |
2026 Earnings |
| 1 |
Sahara |
TBD |
$1,000,000 |
| 2 |
apEX (Dan Madesclaire) |
CS2 |
$180,000+ |
| 3 |
ropz (Robin Kool) |
CS2 |
$180,000+ |
| 4 |
ZywOo (Mathieu Herbaut) |
CS2 |
$180,000+ |
Notable Mentions in 2026
- CS2 Stars: Vitality players like ZywOo and apEX have had strong showings at events like IEM Kraków and others.
- Call of Duty: Players like aBeZy, Simp, and Cellium continue to rack up big winnings in the CDL.
- Dota 2 & Others: Consistent performers from recent Majors and regional leagues.
Important Notes
Prize money tells only part of the story. Many top pros earn significantly more through team salaries, sponsorships, streaming, and content creation. For example, stars like Faker (League of Legends) have massive overall income despite more modest tournament winnings compared to Dota 2 icons.
The 2026 Esports World Cup with its huge prize pools is expected to shake up the yearly rankings significantly as the season progresses.
EsportsHeaven