Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — As Esports grows into a global industry, professional players have seen their earnings soar, driven by massive tournament prize pools, sponsorship deals, and endorsements. “Dota 2” consistently ranks as the game with the highest player earnings, largely due to its annual tournament, The International. With prize pools exceeding $40 million in some years, The International offers life-changing earnings for top players.
Here are the top five highest-earning esports athletes in the world within their respective games.
- Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
Earnings: $7.2 million+
Game: Dota 2
Current Status: Inactive
Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, from Denmark, considerd as an esports athlete with the highest earnings in history. As the captain of OG, he led his team to two consecutive victories at The International (2018 and 2019), the most prestigious tournament in Dota 2.
While he no longer actively competes in tournaments, N0tail remains involved in the industry as a co-founder and part-owner of the OG esports organization. He has shifted his focus to managing the team, mentoring younger players, and producing content for OG’s media platforms. Although he has stepped away from the competitive spotlight, N0tail’s influence in esports continues to grow through his leadership role.
- Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka
Earnings: $6.5 million+
Game: Dota 2
Current Status: Retired (with brief return in 2021)
Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka, hailing from Finland, played alongside N0tail in OG’s historic The International wins. Known for his exceptional gameplay in the support role, his ability to control the map and disrupt enemy strategies was a crucial factor in OG’s success.
Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka initially retired from competitive Dota 2 in 2020, citing burnout and the desire to explore other opportunities outside of esports. However, in 2021, he made a brief comeback, joining Evil Geniuses for a short stint before retiring again.
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- Anathan “ana” Pham
Earnings: $6 million+
Game: Dota 2
Current Status: Semi-Retired
Anathan “ana” Pham, from Australia, was the carry player for OG during their championship runs at The International. The carry role requires the player to farm gold and items in the early game to become the main source of damage in the late game. Ana’s consistent ability to perform under pressure has earned him a reputation as one of the most skilled players in Dota 2 history.
After helping OG win two consecutive The International titles, ana announced his retirement in 2021. However, he briefly returned to competitive play in 2022 before stepping away once again. As of now, he is semi-retired, focusing on personal projects and streaming on occasion
- Sébastien “Ceb” Debs
Earnings: $5.5 million+
Game: Dota 2
Current Status: Semi-Retired
Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, a French-Lebanese player, was OG’s offlaner during their back-to-back wins at The International. The offlane role is considered one of the toughest positions in Dota 2, requiring a delicate balance between aggression and survivability. Ceb’s resilience and game sense helped secure OG’s victories, cementing his place among the all-time greats in esports.
Sébastien “Ceb” Debs retired from professional Dota 2 in 2021 after an illustrious career. Ceb remains closely tied to his as a mentor and occasional stand-in player. Additionally, he has been involved in content creation and analysis, regularly sharing his expertise with the esports community
- Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen
Earnings: $5.4 million+
Game: Dota 2
Current Status: Active
Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, from Finland, burst onto the professional Dota 2 scene just before OG’s first The International win in 2018. As the team’s midlaner, Topson excels at outplaying his opponents in 1v1 scenarios, a key responsibility of the midlane role. His unorthodox and creative playstyle has earned him widespread acclaim, making him one of the most unpredictable and exciting players to watch.
Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen is the only player on this list who is still actively competing. After taking a brief break to focus on his family, Topson back to competitive and currently active in European team, Tundra Esports. In addition to his competitive play, Topson streams regularly, engaging with his fanbase and sharing his gameplay strategies with the community.
The Dota 2 dominance is clear among the top five esports athletes with highest earnings, thanks to the game’s massive prize pools at The International. Each of these players has not only mastered their respective roles but also contributed significantly to the evolution of competitive esports, paving the way for future generations of professional gamers.
(Raidi/Agung)
