Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok)

Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) is the only player to win four League of Legends World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023) and five MSI titles, a record unmatched by any rival on this list. With career prize earnings surpassing $1.3 million and a salary estimated at $5-8 million annually, he is the highest-paid esports player in history, earning 30% more than the typical top-earning player. His 2023 Worlds victory at age 27 — thirteen years into his career — was widely called the greatest individual performance in competitive gaming. South Korea named him a national hero; he carried a torch at the 2024 Paris Olympics.