There was a time when winning a video game tournament meant a T-shirt, a certificate, or maybe a free pizza. Fast forward to today, and we’re talking about teenagers becoming overnight millionaires and tournaments boasting prize pools that outshine some traditional sports leagues.

Esports has grown into a multi-billion-pound industry, and one of its most fascinating markers is the sheer volume of money involved. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the biggest esports prizes, uncover the highest paying tournaments of all time, and explore how these esports earnings records have evolved and shaped the competitive landscape. Whether you’re an aspiring pro, an investor, or just esports-curious, this guide will illuminate the tournaments that changed everything.

Why Prize Pools Matter in Esports

esport written with golden cup

A Symbol of Legitimacy

Large prize pools do more than reward players. They:

  • Signal maturity and investment in the industry
  • Attract mainstream sponsors and media attention
  • Inspire upcoming talent to treat gaming as a serious career

Think of prize money as esports’ version of the Premier League’s transfer fees. The bigger the pot, the more eyes and credibility the tournament gains.

The Role of Crowdfunding

In some cases, communities themselves have contributed to record-breaking prize pools. Platforms like Dota 2’s Battle Pass have shown how fan contributions can dwarf corporate sponsorships.

Case in point:

  • Over 90% of The International’s prize pool in some years came from fans buying digital items

The Titans of Prize Money: Highest Paying Tournaments

A person in a red shirt holds a trophy in one hand while presenting with the other against a dark background.

Let’s break down the major players that consistently lead the charts.

1. The International (Dota 2)

  • Game: Dota 2
  • Organiser: Valve Corporation
  • Notable Edition: The International 10 (2021)
  • Prize Pool: $40,018,195 (~£29 million)

Why It’s Historic:

  • Highest single prize pool in esports history
  • Crowdfunded primarily through the community
  • Set a benchmark other games still struggle to match

Top Earners:

  • Team Spirit (2021) took home over $18 million as champions

2. Fortnite World Cup (2019)

  • Game: Fortnite
  • Organiser: Epic Games
  • Prize Pool: $30,000,000 (~£22 million)

Highlight:

  • Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf won $3 million in the solo finals at age 16
  • Open qualifiers allowed anyone to compete globally

Why It Stands Out:

  • Democratised esports with accessible paths
  • Mixed entertainment with serious earnings
  • Media frenzy made it a cultural moment

3. PUBG Global Championship (2021)

  • Game: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
  • Prize Pool: $4,340,000 (~£3.1 million)

Significance:

  • Boosted the legitimacy of battle royale esports
  • Proved PUBG’s endurance despite newer games

4. League of Legends World Championship

  • Game: League of Legends
  • Typical Prize Pool Range: $2M to $6M

While LoL World Championship pools are modest compared to Dota 2 or Fortnite, the event makes up for it in prestige and reach:

  • Massive viewership (e.g., 100+ million for 2019 final)
  • Global reach with regional leagues feeding into Worlds
  • Huge brand sponsorships from Louis Vuitton, Mastercard, and more

Browse our full evolution of esports tournaments over the decade to see how this prize-money arms race began.

Honourable Mentions: Other Noteworthy Events

Three individuals in beige hoodies collaborate around computers, engaged in a gaming or coding session in a cozy, modern setting.

5. Call of Duty League (CDL) Championship

  • Typical prize pool: $1.5M to $2.5M
  • Mix of team salary and tournament winnings
  • Features franchised teams with investor backing

6. CS:GO Majors

  • Organised by ESL, PGL, and others
  • Prize pools usually around $1M
  • Renowned for competitive consistency and deep talent pool

7. Overwatch League (OWL) Grand Finals

  • Prize Pool: $3 million (2020 season)
  • Blizzard-backed franchising model

8. Valorant Champions Tour (VCT)

  • Prize Pool: Around $1M for championship events
  • Riot is scaling the system akin to LoL Worlds

Players Who Struck Gold

It’s not just tournaments that make headlines — players do too.

Top Esports Earners (All-Time)

  1. Johan “N0tail” Sundstein (Dota 2) – ~$7.2 million
  2. Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka (Dota 2) – ~$6.5 million
  3. Anathan “ana” Pham (Dota 2) – ~$6 million

Why Dota 2 dominates:

  • Valve’s crowd-funded model massively inflates prize pools
  • Teams often stick together through multiple TI wins

Surprising Names

  • Bugha (Fortnite) – $3M from a single event
  • S1mple (CS:GO) – Despite no TI-style prize pools, accumulated steady earnings through consistent performances

How Prize Pools Are Structured

Winner-Takes-Most Model

Often, the winning team or player takes a disproportionately large share. For example:

  • TI 2021: Team Spirit got ~45% of the entire pot

Revenue Share Models

Some leagues are shifting to:

  • Salaries + moderate prize bonuses
  • Revenue shares from merchandise, media rights, and sponsorship

Why this matters:

  • Creates sustainability for lower-tier teams
  • Encourages long-term career paths over short-term cash grabs

Funding Prize Pools: The Backers Behind the Bucks

1. Game Publishers

  • Valve, Riot, Blizzard, Epic
  • Direct funding or revenue-linked (e.g., Battle Pass)

2. Corporate Sponsors

  • Brands like Red Bull, Mercedes-Benz, and Intel have invested in esports for exposure to the Gen Z demographic

3. Crowdfunding & Battle Passes

  • Dota 2’s Battle Pass model raised over $280M across 10 years
  • Offers fans in-game items and cosmetic rewards

4. Media Rights and Franchising

  • Leagues now sell streaming rights
  • Franchised models (CDL, OWL) mimic traditional sports revenue structures

The Global Distribution of Prize Pools

Top Earning Regions

  1. North America – Strong Fortnite and CoD presence
  2. Europe – Rich history in CS:GO and Dota 2
  3. East Asia – Korea (LoL), China (Dota)
  4. SEA and LATAM – Rapidly growing participation, especially in mobile esports

Mobile Gaming’s Contribution

  • Games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Free Fire have introduced six-figure events in developing regions

Are Big Prize Pools Sustainable?

The Pros

  • Boosts industry legitimacy
  • Attracts fresh talent
  • Encourages innovation and marketing buzz

The Cons

  • Over-reliance on one-off events (e.g. TI)
  • Sustainability questioned for games with few annual tournaments
  • Doesn’t guarantee consistent income for mid-tier teams

The Future?

  • Blending big finales with stable league ecosystems
  • Expanding regional accessibility
  • More consistent prize distribution throughout the year

More Than Just Money

The top prize pools in esports tournament history aren’t just impressive figures on a spreadsheet — they’re milestones that represent the explosive evolution of competitive gaming. These highest paying tournaments helped redefine what a career in esports could look like. They brought legitimacy, inspired the next generation, and turned ordinary players into global icons.

From The International’s crowdfunding marvel to Fortnite’s youthful revolution, each event etched itself into the history books not just through spectacle, but through esports earnings records that once seemed unimaginable.

Curious to know where it all began? Explore our breakdown of the first esports tournaments that changed the industry.