Top 10 highest earning esports players of all time

The esports scene is ever-expanding, with multiple players constantly joining the fray for a chance to climb the ranks and make their names known. However, not every player can become a global phenomenon, as several factors determine whether a player makes it big or not. Personality, team, pure skills, and more.

We’re here with a list of the top 10 richest esports players in 2025. This includes going through their total earnings to determine how much every player has made in their professional career. These players will include N0tail, JerAx, ana, Miposhka, Ceb, Topson, Collapse, Yataro, Mira, and KuroKy.

So, if you’re interested in learning about those esports players who made some big bucks, keep reading! Of course, if you want to use your money to become a professional in any popular esports game, Eloking has you covered.

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein ($7 million+)

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein is a Danish-Faroese former professional Dota 2 ^[1] player. He is best known for co-founding OG, one of the most successful teams in the game's history. N0tail began his esports career in Heroes of Newerth before transitioning to Dota 2 in 2012. 

He played for teams like Fnatic, Team Secret, and Cloud9 before establishing OG in 2015. Under his leadership, OG won The International in both 2018 and 2019, making them the first team to win the tournament twice. N0tail is also the highest-earning esports player in terms of prize money, with over $7 million in winnings.

Beyond his in-game achievements, N0tail has been influential in shaping the esports landscape. He released a biography titled "Character Beats Talent," detailing his journey from a young gamer to a world champion. After stepping back from competitive play in 2021, he focused on mentoring new talent and developing OG's infrastructure.

Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka ($6.4 million+)

Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka is a Finnish Dota 2 player known for his skill as a support. He started his career in Heroes of Newerth before moving to Dota 2. Over the years, he played for teams like Team Liquid and OG. With OG, he won The International in both 2018 and 2019, making history as part of the first team to win the event twice. His gameplay with heroes like Earth Spirit and Rubick set a high standard for support players.

After his success with OG, JerAx took a break from competitive play in 2020. He returned in 2021 to play for Evil Geniuses but left the team in 2022. Later that year, he joined Team Liquid as a coach. He stepped away from coaching in December 2022. Throughout his career, JerAx earned over $6.4 million in prize money. This places him among the top earners in esports.

Anathan “ana” Pham ($6 million+)

Anathan “ana” Pham is an Australian Dota 2 player known for his calm style and strong performances. He began his career in 2016 with Invictus Gaming, winning the NEA Beijing tournament. Later, he joined OG and helped the team win the Boston Major and Kiev Major. Ana's skill and steady play made him a key part of OG's success.

In 2018 and 2019, ana and OG won The International twice, a rare achievement in Dota 2. He was known for his smart plays and ability to stay focused under pressure. After these victories, ana took breaks from the game but returned to play for teams like T1 and Royal Never Give Up.

Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov ($5.9 million+)

Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov is a Russian Dota 2 player and the captain of Team Spirit, one of the most well-known esports teams currently. Starting his professional career in 2014 with Yellow Submarine, the player made his first appearance at The International with Team Empire in 2017. While the team didn’t win, they achieved a notable victory against Evil Geniuses.

Later in December 2020, the player returned to Yellow Submarine, which was later signed by Team Submarine. Under Naidenov’s leadership, Spirit won The Internationals in 2021 and in 2023, making the team two-time world champions, which is nothing to scoff at.

Sébastien “Ceb” Debs ($5.9 million+)

Sébastien “Ceb” Debs is a French-Lebanese Dota 2 player known for his time with OG. He started his career in 2011 and hopped around different teams before eventually settling as a coach for OG in 2016. Under his guidance, OG won multiple Major tournaments. In 2018, he returned to playing and helped OG win The International in both 2018 and 2019, making them the first team to win the tournament twice. However, this feat was later repeated by teams like Team Spirit.

Ceb is recognized for his leadership and strategic gameplay. After retiring in 2021, he returned in 2022 to help OG win the ESL One Stockholm Major. This made for one of the most hype moment in Dota 2 history, as even those who used to watch Dota 2 esports before tuned in to watch the veteran in action one more time.

Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen ($5.8 million+)

Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen is a Finnish Dota 2 player who’s primarily associated with the team OG, similar to Ceb. He joined OG in 2018 and helped the team win The International in both 2018 and 2019 thanks to his unique playstule and adaptability that made him a key player in both wins.

After his time with OG, Topson played for teams like T1 and Tundra Esports. He took a break from professional play to focus on his family but returned to compete in major tournaments. In 2024, he helped Tundra Esports secure a third-place finish at The International. However, after all of this, the player decided to retire from professional play to focus on his family and fulfill his mandatory military service in Finland. Considering how much money he made, choosing to retire was likely the right choice.

Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov ($5.7 million+)

Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov is a Russian professional Dota 2 player born on February 25, 2002. He plays as the offlaner for Team Spirit. Collapse gained international recognition in 2021 when Team Spirit won The International 10, securing a prize pool of over $18 million. His performance in the tournament was widely praised, especially thanks to how important he was in team fights.

Collapse has helped the team win multiple major tournaments, including the PGL Arlington Major in 2022 and The International 2023. Not only is he still a part of Team Spirit, but Collapse is also considered one of the best Dota 2 players, which is no light praise considering there are so many powerhouse players who play the game.

Ilya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk ($5.6 million+)

Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk is a Ukrainian professional Dota 2 player, born on March 12, 2003. Being known as one of the best carry Dota 2 players of all time, Yatoro has been a key player of Team Spirit since the end of 2020. This player’s career started early, as by the age of 14, he had already reached a matchmaking rating of 6000, playing primarily as a semi-support.

Yatoro's career is highlighted by significant achievements, most notably winning The International 10 in 2021 and The International 12 in 2023 with Team Spirit. While he adopted the name “Raddan” for a brief period back in 2024, he later returned to the alias everyone already knew and loved.

Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov ($5.5 million+)

Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov us a Ukrainian professional Dota 2 player who specializes in the support role. Born on November 3, 1999, he began his professional career in 2019 and joined Team Spirit in February 2021. Mira has been with Team Spirit as the team won The International in 2021 and 2023, earning over $5.5 million in prize money alone.

Known for his strategic gameplay and signature heroes like Rubick, Mirana, and Lion, Mira made a name for himself in the esports scene. However, he decided to part ways with Team Spirit in February 2025 and went on to join Aurora Gaming.

Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi ($5.3 million+)

Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi is a German professional Dota 2 player. Born on October 28, 1992, the player started his gaming career in 2008 with the original Dota and then transitioned to Dota 2 in 2011 when the sequel came out. Over the years, KuroKy has been a part of several top-tier teams, including Natus Vincere, Team Secret, and Team Liquid.

One of KuroKy's most significant achievements came in 2017 when he led Team Liquid to victory at The International 2017, securing a prize pool of over $10 million. He later went on to co-found Team Nigma, a respected esports organization in its own right. 

FAQs

Which esports game has the richest players?

While it’s hard to determine which esports game has the richest players, as things like brand deals and merchandise percentages are usually hidden from the general public, the top 10 players with the most earnings purely based on tournament wins are all from Dota 2, showcasing the scope of the MOBA’s esports presence.

Which esports player has gotten the most money from just playing games?

Johan “N0tail” Sundstein is considered one of the richest esports players of all time, and for good reason. The player has earned over $7 million purely on tournament winnings, and has probably gotten even more through things like brand deals and merchandise. It’s safe to say he has more than enough money to retire and still be able to live comfortably, though it’s nice to see him still present in the Dota 2 scene.

References

1. [1] "Dota 2 official website". www.dota2.com. Retrieved May 03, 2025