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How much do League of Legends esports players make in 2025?
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 … Continued The post How much do League of Legends esports players make in 2025? appeared first on Esports Insider.
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.
Esports players don’t just play to win; they play to earn a living. This is especially true in games like League of Legends (LoL), where prize money can go into the millions for players and league teams. In the past decade, prize pools have jumped exponentially, spurring many tense and fun competitions to grab the final prize money. However, other factors are responsible for the huge income that esports players make in the industry, such as sponsorships and merchandise.
Several LoL events are held annually, such as the regional leagues, which are usually held from the Spring season to the League of Legends World Championship in October. This event draws all qualified teams and players from around the world.
In 2024, the Championship had a massive $2.25 million prize pool, but the 2025 event is going to double that amount, with an incredible $5 million in prize money up for grabs. With this in mind, we’re going to break down a LoL esports player’s earnings, where much of this income comes from, as well as look into the prize money available in other centralized 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 | $16 million (TI 2023) |
| 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) |
Although League of Legends is widely agreed to be the most popular esports game in 2025, it’s Valve’s Dota 2 that consistently offers the most prize money, with as much as $40 million being offered to players and teams who end up winning at The International tournament, the game’s annual esports event.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCS (North America) | The North American regional league consists of Spring and Summer Splits. | 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) |
| PCS (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 |
| All-Star Event | An exhibition event featuring a mix of professional players, streamers, and celebrities. | Annually (Offseason) | Dec 2025 |
| LOL Challengers Series (LCS, LEC, 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, G2 Esports, and MAD Lions 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 harboring 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 like Faker and Uzi are well known in LoL for shaping how the game came to be established in several esports tournaments around the world. Faker is a three-time world champion, while ShowMaker and Canyon draw in millions of viewers via Twitch and other streaming platforms.
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
A League of Legends players salary isn’t just about earning prize money once an esports tournament is over. Other factors, such as sponsorships and merchandise, also play their part in driving revenue for established players and teams alike.
With esports set to grow even more in 2025 by way of trends like mobile gaming, new games appearing at events, and much more, there is plenty of potential for earning more income. This, and many other factors, is why all players, not just League of Legends pro players, see plenty of opportunity in the industry. Although players like Duke and Bang have made over $300,000, it’s not an impossibility for that figure to triple within the next few years.
FAQs
LoL esports players can make between $25,000 and $300,000 each year, mainly from prize money, sponsorships, and merch, like in-game cosmetics.
The highest-paid League of Legends players are Faker, Duke, and Bang, who are paid around $300,000.
The richest League of Legends player goes to Faker again, with almost $2 million in winnings so far.
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