TL;DR
- The League of Legends pro calendar includes events around the world, with the Worlds taking place in October-November and featuring the best teams from all regions.
- Prominent teams include T1, EDward Gaming, G2 Esports, and MAD Lions.
- Top players can earn up to $500,000 as a base salary, with tournament winnings, sponsorship, and other revenue streams supplementing this.
- Dota 2 has the highest average prize money for The International, but the League of Legends Worlds will have $5 million up for grabs.
Like any sportsperson, esports players do more than just play to win, they play to earn a living. In League of Legends (LoL), the hefty prize pools can be transformative for its players. In the past decade, these prize pools have grown exponentially as many tournaments have risen in popularity. It isn’t uncommon to see seven-figure prize pools up for grabs, but tournaments aren’t the only factor contributing to the mouth-watering income some esports players make.
Sponsorships and merchandise also factor into LoL esports players earnings, helping provide a relatively stable income, although this can only be sustained so long as they perform. Annual events like the regional leagues keep these players in the spotlight throughout a season, but no light shines brighter than the League of Legends World Championship, drawing the best players and teams from around the world.
While 2024 LoL Worlds already had a mighty $2.25 million prize pool, 2025 has doubled that amount to an immense $5 million in prize money. There’s plenty of cash in the LoL esports scene, and we’re going to break down how much its players earn, as well as look at the prize money available in other centralised and open esports tournaments.
How much do LoL players make?
The estimated earnings of esports players vary widely due to multiple factors — it’s not just about prize money. These include:
| Earnings (estimates) | Top players – world champions, high-tier pros | lower-tier, or development leagues |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary (team salary) | $100,000 – $500,000+ per year (for top players on prominent teams like T1, G2, etc.) | $25,000 – $75,000 per year (depending on region and team) |
| Tournament winnings | $50,000 – $500,000+ per event (based on performance, e.g., Worlds) | $10,000 – $50,000 per year (depending on region and tournament performance) |
| Sponsorship and team revenue share | $100,000 – $500,000+ from team and individual sponsorship deals | $5,000 – $50,000 per year (lesser-known sponsorship deals) |
| Streaming (Twitch, YouTube, etc.) | $50,000 – $500,000+ annually (from subs, ads, donations, and sponsorships) | $2,000 – $20,000 annually (smaller streams or more limited presence) |
| Content creation/YouTube | $50,000 – $200,000+ per year (due to high views, sponsored content, or collaborations) | $1,000 – $10,000 per year (if they create content regularly) |
| Brand sponsorships/influencer deals | $50,000 – $250,000+ per year (for high-tier players with large social media followings) | $1,000 – $20,000 per year (for lesser-known players) |
| Merchandising (team/personal) | $10,000 – $100,000+ per year (revenue share from personal/team merchandise sales) | $500 – $5,000 per year (lower sales or less-established brand) |
| Other (appearances, coaching, etc.) | $20,000 – $100,000+ per year (for appearances, coaching, or special events) | $1,000 – $10,000 per year (from coaching or rare appearances) |
How does this compare to other games?
Different games in esports can offer varying prize pools. This is dependent on several factors, such as the size of the event, the sponsorships, merchandise, the popularity of the game, and much more.
In 2025, the most popular esports games have the following prize money at their respective events:
| Game | Major tournament(s) | Average prize money | Highest recorded prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| League of Legends (LoL) | World Championship (Worlds) | $3 million – $5 million | $5 million (2025) |
| Dota 2 | The International (TI) | $30 million – $40 million | $40 million (TI 2021) |
| Counter-Strike 2 | CS2 Major Championships | $1 million – $2 million | $2 million (multiple events) |
| Fortnite | Fortnite World Cup | $10 million – $40 million | $30 million (2024) |
| Valorant | Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) | $1 million – $3 million | $2.2 million (VCT 2024) |
| Overwatch | Overwatch Champions Series | $2 million – $3 million | $2.2 million (OCS 2024) |
| Rocket League | Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) | $3 million – $5 million | $5 million (RLCS 2024) |
Despite League of Legends being widely thought of as the most popular esport in 2025, Valve’s Dota 2 has consistently offered the highest prize pools. The 2021 edition of The International offered a shocking $40,000,000 prize pool, something not even Fortnite and all its influence could match.
However, LoL esports players’ earnings are high as the tournaments consistently offer significant prize money regardless. This is due to several revenue streams, such as sponsorships and exclusive broadcasting rights for streamers and TV networks to showcase the championships around the world.
Ultimately, there’s lots of money to be made in any of the most popular esports games in 2025, but if you want to try and make as much as you can, it won’t be in LoL.
What does the competitive LoL scene look like?
When it comes to the League of Legends competitive scene in esports, there are plenty of tournaments held annually that players and viewers take part in. These include:
| LOL event | Description | Frequency | Key dates (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTA North/South (Americas) | The League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA) was formed ahead of the 2025 season, acting as the Americas unified pro League of Legends league. | Spring & Summer seasons | Jan 2025 – Aug 2025 (Spring) |
| LEC (Europe) | Europe’s premier regional league, with Spring and Summer Splits. | Spring & Summer seasons | Jan 2025 – Aug 2025 (Spring) |
| LCK (Korea) | South Korea’s top regional league, with Spring and Summer Splits. | Spring & Summer seasons | Jan 2025 – Apr 2025 (Spring) |
| LPL (China) | China’s regional league, with Spring and Summer Splits. | Spring & Summer seasons | Jan 2025 – Apr 2025 (Spring) |
| LCP (Pacific) | The regional league for Southeast Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia). | Spring & Summer seasons | Jan 2025 – Apr 2025 (Spring) |
| MSI (Mid-Season Invitational) | An international tournament featuring the best teams from each region, following Spring Splits. | Annually | May 2025 |
| World Championship (Worlds) | The biggest LoL event of the year, featuring the best teams from all regions. | Annually | Oct-Nov 2025 |
| Regional Finals | Regional tournaments that determine qualification for Worlds (in some regions). | Annually | Aug 2025 (varies by region) |
| Demacia Cup (China) | A major off-season event in China with a mix of top teams and new talent. | Annually | Dec 2025 |
| LoL tier-two (ERLs, LEC, NACL etc.) | Tier below the main leagues, often featuring up-and-coming players and teams. | Ongoing | All year round |
Key esports teams and players
There are several players and teams in LoL that bring in lots of viewers and fans to several esports tournaments around the world.
Teams
Several teams have established themselves in the competitive landscape, such as T1, known for dominating championships like Worlds and LCK, especially with Faker leading the group. EDward Gaming and G2 Esports are also some of the most influential teams for LoL, consistently bringing in high viewership at multiple tournaments.
Players
League of Legends is known for harbouring several influential players, such as Faker, who is still regarded as one of its best players of all time. ShowMaker and Canyon from DAMWON KIA have also impacted several matches with their talents and showmanship. Caps of G2 Esports is also well-known for his respectful leadership, bringing the team to several wins over the years.
Established pros
Established pros, namely Faker and Uzi, are known for shaping how LoL became the esports phenom it is today, now with events all around the globe. ShowMaker and Canyon attract millions of viewers on Twitch, while Faker, a three-time Worlds champion, has earned almost $2,000,000 in prize money alone, according to Esports Charts.
Emerging players
With any game in the esports scene, there will always be emerging players who are making their mark in the industry. Mun “Oner“ Hyeon-ju is a great example, having been mainly responsible for taking the T1 team to several wins in previous years, such as the LCK Cup in March 2025. Another is Juice, part of Royal Club, who joined the main roster in December 2024. He’s already making an impression with some notable wins in recent matches, such as in the League of Legends Development League (LDL) Split in February 2025.
Conclusion
As with any sport, a League of Legends players salary isn’t only about earning prize money once an event ends. Sponsorship and merchandise help bump up their salaries too and are a considerable factor in driving revenue for established players and teams.
Esports has been growing year on year, with 2025’s growth via the expansion of mobile games, new titles popping up at events, and a whole host of other factors (such as Arcane’s popularity), there looks to be potential for income to increase.
These factors are why esports players of all titles, not just League of Legends pro players see opportunity in the industry. While LoL Worlds is doubling its prize pool for 2025, the over $300,000 earned by players Duke and Bang might seem like a paltry sum in years to come.
FAQs
How much do League of Legends (LoL) esports players make?
LoL esports players can make between $25,000 and $300,000 each year, mainly from prize money, sponsorships, and merch, like in-game cosmetics.
Who are the highest-paid League of Legends players?
The highest-paid League of Legends players are Faker, Duke, and Bang, who are paid around $300,000.
Who is the richest League of Legends player?
Faker is the richest League of Legends player, having won almost $2 million so far, and his additional incomes likely bolster his income millions more.
REFERENCES
- Best Esports LoL Players by Total Winnings (Esports Charts)
