Want to know how much do esports players make?

As the world of esports continues to grow and attract more attention, many people are wondering how much do esports players make.

Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today.

Are you ready?

Let’s jump straight in…

1. Tournaments and Prizes

The vast majority of esports players make come from playing in tournaments.

While the prize pools for these events can vary greatly, the top tournaments offer millions of dollars in prize money.

For example:

  • The International 2017 – a Dota 2 tournament – had a prize pool of over $24 million!
  • Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 – Solo competition had a prize pool of $30 million.
  • Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 – Duo competition had a prize pool of $15 million.
  • The International 2014 – a Dota 2 tournament – had a prize pool of $10.9 million.

And the list goes on…

So, if you’re good enough to compete at the top level, there’s definitely some serious money to be made.

2. Stream donations

Another way for esports players to make money is through stream donations.

This is when viewers of a Twitch or YouTube live stream donate money to the gamer while they’re playing.

The amount of money that a gamer can receive from donations varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to make thousands of dollars per year from donations alone.

In 2018, a Twitch streamer named Ninja reportedly made $500,000 from donations.

And in 2020, a YouTuber named PewDiePie is said to have made $1 million from donations.

So, if you’re a professional gamer with a large following, there’s definitely some money to be made from stream donations.

How Much Do Esports Players Make per Year

3. Salaries and Sponsorships

In addition to tournament winnings, many esports players also receive salaries from their teams and sponsorships from brands.

These salaries and sponsorships can range from a few thousand dollars per month to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

Here are some of the examples, just so you know how much do they make for their salaries and sponsorships:

  • TSM – one of the most successful esports teams in the world – reportedly pays its players a salary of $320,000 per year.
  • Fnatic – another top esports team is said to pay its players an average salary of $250,000 per year.
  • Team Liquid – yet another top esports team pays its players an average salary of $200,000 per year.

4. Online Ad Revenue

Many esports players earn money from online advertising.

This is usually done through YouTube and Twitch, where they can generate revenue from ads that are displayed on their videos and streams.

The amount of money that a gamer can make from online advertising varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to make millions of dollars per year.

Here are 3 top gamers who earn from online advertising:

  • PewDiePie – a YouTuber who focuses on gaming and has 111 million subscribers is said to have $15 million in 2020 from online advertising.
  • NINJA – a Twitch streamer with 14 million followers is said to have made $10 million in 2018 from online advertising.
  • Markiplier – a YouTuber who focuses on gaming and has 27 million subscribers is said to have $8.5 million in 2020 from online advertising.

That’s a lot of money!

How Much Do Professional Gamers make

5. Physical Product Sales

Another way of esports players makes money is by selling physical products.

This can be done through their websites or through online stores such as Amazon.

The type of product that a gamer can sell varies greatly, but some of the most popular items include gaming equipment, apparel, and collectibles.

Some of the top gamers are said to make millions of dollars per year from physical product sales.

For example:

PewDiePie is a YouTuber who focuses on gaming and is said to have made $8 million in 2019 from physical product sales.

NINJA is a Twitch streamer with 14 million followers and earned $5 million in 2018 from physical product sales.

6. Selling In-Game Items

Some esports players make money by selling in-game items.

This is usually done through websites such as PlayerAuctions.

The type of in-game item that a gamer can sell varies greatly, but some of the most popular items include weapons, armor, and cosmetics.

For example, a gamer named “playerunknown” is said to have made $1 million in 2017 from selling in-game items.

7. Crowdfunding

Other esports players make money through crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

This is usually done by setting up a campaign and asking their fans to donate money.

The amount of money that a gamer can raise through crowdfunding varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to raise millions of dollars per year.

For example, Doublelift – a professional League of Legends player – is said to have raised $1 million in 2017 from crowdfunding.

How Do Esports Players Make Money

8. Streaming Online

Most esports players make money by streaming their gameplay online.

This is usually done through platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming.

The amount of money that a gamer can make from streaming varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to make millions of dollars per year.

For example:

  • Ninja – a Twitch streamer with 14 million followers has made $10 million in 2018 from streaming.
  • PewDiePie – a YouTuber who focuses on gaming and has 111 million subscribers is said to have $15 million in 2020 from streaming.

9. Youtube and Twitch Revenue

Esports players also make money from Youtube and Twitch Revenue.

This is usually done through ad revenue, sponsorships, and donations.

The amount of money that a gamer can make from Youtube and Twitch varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to make millions of dollars per year.

10. Sponsored Posts on Social Media

Another way for esports players to make money is by posting sponsored content on social media.

This is usually done through platforms such as Instagram and Twitter.

The amount of money that a gamer can make from a sponsored post varies greatly, but some of the top earners are said to make thousands of dollars per post.

In conclusion:

So there you have it!…

Now you know how much professional gamers can make.

I bet you are already thinking of becoming a professional gamer.

Then you need to make sure that you’re prepared to put in the time and effort required to be successful.

Cool!

Oh, and as always, have fun gaming!

-The Zombie Writing Team