If you are an avid gamer, chances are you have often wondered how much esports players make. It depends on the game(s), their skill level and prize money won. The highest earners tend to be professional gamers from top leagues in their game(s), though freelancers who make a living streaming may also make some money.
How Much Do Professional Gamers Earn?
Professional esports players typically make money through tournament prizes. These competitions take place online or in physical arenas, and the winner receives a share of the overall prize pool. Although these payouts may not be as generous as cash prizes awarded in professional sports, it can still provide some extra income.
Some of the highest paid esports players make their money through streaming and sponsorships. Streamers get paid per viewer who watches them, with additional income coming from pre-roll ads and sponsored videos. Popular streamers such as Ninja (Tyler Blevins) and Jeremy Wang (Disguised Toad) make thousands each month from their streams.
The best esports players in the world can earn millions of dollars annually due to the growing industry and increased viewership of esports. Gaming used to be frowned upon within mainstream culture, but that is changing.
In the past, much of esports players’ income came from sponsorships. These sponsors were usually large companies looking to promote their products within the esports community.
Companies could approach an esports team and pay them for their appearances and other marketing initiatives. In exchange, the team would wear the company’s logo on its jerseys as well as other promotional material.
Even when they weren’t winning games, esports players could still make money from their team’s salary and tournament prize funds. Teams typically employ their players and they often receive a portion of their salaries from tournament winnings and streaming payments.
Some of the biggest esports organizations make millions annually from their earnings, including Liquid and Fnatic. Together, these two teams have won an incredible $70 million in prize pools alone – not including any contracts they may have with sponsors.
Other esports teams receive a portion of their team’s prize money from tournaments, live streaming, and commercial offers from outside sponsors. For some players this money can be a lifeline to provide them with regular income.
The esports industry is flourishing and there’s no end in sight to how much money will be made. Eventually, esports players will be paid like traditional athletes and make millions each year.
Though esports has not always been popular, it has now become an integral part of our culture and economy. With the esports industry now worth $1 billion annually, the future looks bright for this rapidly developing sector of our economy.
