How can eSports players make such huge amounts of money? The prize money usually comes from sponsorships, advertising, ticket sales, and so on. Most eSports competitions have prize pools of under US$1 million. But those at the top, like The International (Dota 2) and the Fortnite World Cup, have winnings of over US$30 million. While that’s a large prize, consider how much money is involved in other sports.
The prize money of the top chess tournaments can reach US$1 million. Meanwhile, in traditional sports leagues, players make much more. Professional athletes can make money in other ways as well. LeBron James, for example, makes more from endorsementsthan from his NBA salary. Similarly, many of the eSports players are moving towards a focus on streaming and sponsorships.
Gamers who work as streamers or content creators have more freedom, while those on eSports teams, like other professional athletes, have strict practice schedules. Top eSports winners have winnings of up to US$8 million, but some gaming-focused streamers have made over US$100 million in career earnings. Also, popular streamers often have as many viewers as big eSports tournaments. What would you rather watch—a tournament filled with top-level gamers or your favorite streamer playing a game?
