Top 10 Gamers & Streamers Who Made More Than Pro Athletes | Top10Grid
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Top 10 Gamers & Streamers Who Made More Than Pro Athletes
While NBA players fight over $40 million contracts, a 25-year-old playing Fortnite in his bedroom signed a $100 million platform deal. The gaming economy has created a class of millionaires who never touched a ball, stepped on a field, or broke a sweat — unless you count the carpal tunnel. Welcome to the new professional sports.
Curated by our gaming editors. Tracks both critical reception and community vote — updated as new releases shift the conversation.
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1. Ninja (Tyler Blevins) — The $30M Fortnite King — Ninja signed a $30 million exclusive deal with Mixer in 2019 — Microsoft's attempt to compete with Twitch. When Mixer shut down a year later, he kept the money AND returned to Twitch, then moved to Kick. At peak, he had 18 million Twitch followers and earned $500,000 per month from subscriptions alone. He played Fortnite with Drake on stream (635,000 concurrent viewers — a record at the time). His Adidas collaboration was the first esports shoe deal. Estimated total earnings: $40+ million. He made more from gaming in 2019 than every player on the Detroit Lions roster combined.
2. xQc (Felix Lengyel) — The $100M Platform Hopper — The French-Canadian former Overwatch pro signed a $100 million deal with Kick in 2023 — the most lucrative streaming contract ever. Before that, he was Twitch's most-watched streamer, averaging 70,000+ concurrent viewers for marathon gambling and variety streams that regularly hit 20+ hours. He streamed for 8,700+ hours in 2022 alone — that's essentially a full-time job times three. xQc earned more from his Kick deal than Jaylen Brown's NBA supermax contract ($304M over 5 years). A man who rage-quits Overwatch is worth more per year than most NFL quarterbacks.
3. Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) — League of Legends' GOAT — Faker has won four League of Legends World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023) and is the undisputed greatest esports player in history. His T1 contract is reportedly $10 million per year — in a sport where most pros earn $50,000. He was offered $20 million to play in China and turned it down. His Worlds 2023 victory drew 6.4 million peak concurrent viewers — more than the NBA Finals Game 7 that year. South Korea treats him like a national treasure; his face is on billboards across Seoul. Faker earns more than most MLB starting pitchers while clicking a mouse.
4. Ibai Llanos — Spain's Biggest Media Personality — Ibai went from League of Legends caster to the biggest content creator in the Spanish-speaking world — 15 million Twitch followers, 11 million on YouTube. He co-owns KOI (a professional esports team with Gerard Pique), hosts La Velada del Ano (celebrity boxing events that drew 3.4 million concurrent viewers in 2024 — more than most La Liga matches), and interviewed Lionel Messi on stream. His New Year's Eve stream in 2022 drew 2.5 million viewers — replacing traditional TV for millions of Spanish youth. Ibai doesn't compete with other streamers. He competes with television networks.
5. Pokimane (Imane Anys) — The $10M Brand Builder — Pokimane is Twitch's most-followed female streamer (9.3 million followers) and arguably the most influential woman in gaming. She co-founded OfflineTV, launched Midnight snack brand (sold at Target), and earned an estimated $10 million in 2022 from sponsorships, subs, and brand deals. She also capped her Twitch donations at $5 to discourage parasocial spending — a genuinely ethical move that cost her real money. Pokimane earns more per year than most WNBA starting rosters combined, and she did it while being one of the few creators actively trying to make the platform less exploitative.
6. Shroud (Michael Grzesiek) — The FPS God — Former CS:GO pro Shroud signed a $10 million deal with Mixer in 2019 (joining Ninja), kept the full payout when Mixer folded, and returned to Twitch as a free agent. His aim is so precise that fans call him "the human aimbot." Peak concurrent viewership: 500,000+. His endorsement portfolio includes Logitech, HyperX, and Postmates. He later became a co-owner of Sentinels esports team. Total estimated earnings: $20+ million from streaming alone — more than many NHL players. The quietest personality on this list also has one of the fattest bank accounts.
7. N0tail (Johan Sundstein) — Dota 2's $7M Man — N0tail is the highest-earning esports player in history by prize money — $7.2 million, almost entirely from winning The International twice with OG (2018 and 2019). TI9's prize pool was $34.3 million — the largest in esports history, funded entirely by player battle pass purchases. His 2019 winnings ($3.1 million for one tournament) exceeded the prize money of Wimbledon's singles champion. A Danish kid who started playing Heroes of Newerth in his bedroom earned more from two Dota tournaments than most tennis players earn in a career.
8. Ludwig (Ludwig Ahgren) — The Subathon Pioneer — Ludwig ran a 31-day subathon in 2021 that broke Ninja's all-time Twitch subscriber record at 283,000 subs — generating an estimated $1.4 million in one month. He then signed an exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming (rumored $10 million+), proving that platforms will pay eight figures for top talent. He co-founded Offbrand, a creative agency, and hosts Mogul Money (a game show). His 2023 chess boxing event drew millions of viewers. Ludwig makes more per year than the average MLB salary ($4.9 million) while literally sleeping on stream for content.
9. Tfue (Turner Tenney) — The $20M Fortnite Prodigy — At 20, Tfue was the highest-earning Fortnite content creator on Earth — estimated at $20 million in 2019 from tournament winnings, sponsorships, and streaming revenue. He sued FaZe Clan over an allegedly unfair contract that took 80% of his brand deal income (the lawsuit settled confidentially and sparked an industry-wide reckoning about creator contracts). At peak, he averaged 100,000+ concurrent viewers. His legal battle against FaZe was more consequential than his gameplay — it changed how every esports org structures creator deals. He made more at 20 than most NBA rookies.
10. DrLupo (Benjamin Lupo) — The $10M Charity Gamer — DrLupo signed a rumored $10 million exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming in 2021, leaving Twitch. But his real legacy is charitable: he's raised over $13 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through gaming streams — more than most professional athletes donate in a lifetime. His 24-hour charity streams regularly raise $1 million+ per session. He earns more from his YouTube deal than most NHL players while simultaneously being one of the most generous people in entertainment. DrLupo proved that gaming wealth and genuine altruism aren't mutually exclusive. The internet desperately needed that example.
Ninja signed a $30 million exclusive deal with Mixer in 2019 — Microsoft's attempt to compete with Twitch. When Mixer shut down a year later, he kept the money AND returned to Twitch, then moved to Kick. At peak, he had 18 million Twitch followers and earned $500,000 per month from subscriptions alone. He played Fortnite with Drake on stream (635,000 concurrent viewers — a record at the time). His Adidas collaboration was the first esports shoe deal. Estimated total earnings: $40+ million. He made more from gaming in 2019 than every player on the Detroit Lions roster combined.
The French-Canadian former Overwatch pro signed a $100 million deal with Kick in 2023 — the most lucrative streaming contract ever. Before that, he was Twitch's most-watched streamer, averaging 70,000+ concurrent viewers for marathon gambling and variety streams that regularly hit 20+ hours. He streamed for 8,700+ hours in 2022 alone — that's essentially a full-time job times three. xQc earned more from his Kick deal than Jaylen Brown's NBA supermax contract ($304M over 5 years). A man who rage-quits Overwatch is worth more per year than most NFL quarterbacks.
Faker has won four League of Legends World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023) and is the undisputed greatest esports player in history. His T1 contract is reportedly $10 million per year — in a sport where most pros earn $50,000. He was offered $20 million to play in China and turned it down. His Worlds 2023 victory drew 6.4 million peak concurrent viewers — more than the NBA Finals Game 7 that year. South Korea treats him like a national treasure; his face is on billboards across Seoul. Faker earns more than most MLB starting pitchers while clicking a mouse.
Ibai went from League of Legends caster to the biggest content creator in the Spanish-speaking world — 15 million Twitch followers, 11 million on YouTube. He co-owns KOI (a professional esports team with Gerard Pique), hosts La Velada del Ano (celebrity boxing events that drew 3.4 million concurrent viewers in 2024 — more than most La Liga matches), and interviewed Lionel Messi on stream. His New Year's Eve stream in 2022 drew 2.5 million viewers — replacing traditional TV for millions of Spanish youth. Ibai doesn't compete with other streamers. He competes with television networks.
Pokimane is Twitch's most-followed female streamer (9.3 million followers) and arguably the most influential woman in gaming. She co-founded OfflineTV, launched Midnight snack brand (sold at Target), and earned an estimated $10 million in 2022 from sponsorships, subs, and brand deals. She also capped her Twitch donations at $5 to discourage parasocial spending — a genuinely ethical move that cost her real money. Pokimane earns more per year than most WNBA starting rosters combined, and she did it while being one of the few creators actively trying to make the platform less exploitative.
Former CS:GO pro Shroud signed a $10 million deal with Mixer in 2019 (joining Ninja), kept the full payout when Mixer folded, and returned to Twitch as a free agent. His aim is so precise that fans call him "the human aimbot." Peak concurrent viewership: 500,000+. His endorsement portfolio includes Logitech, HyperX, and Postmates. He later became a co-owner of Sentinels esports team. Total estimated earnings: $20+ million from streaming alone — more than many NHL players. The quietest personality on this list also has one of the fattest bank accounts.
N0tail is the highest-earning esports player in history by prize money — $7.2 million, almost entirely from winning The International twice with OG (2018 and 2019). TI9's prize pool was $34.3 million — the largest in esports history, funded entirely by player battle pass purchases. His 2019 winnings ($3.1 million for one tournament) exceeded the prize money of Wimbledon's singles champion. A Danish kid who started playing Heroes of Newerth in his bedroom earned more from two Dota tournaments than most tennis players earn in a career.
Ludwig ran a 31-day subathon in 2021 that broke Ninja's all-time Twitch subscriber record at 283,000 subs — generating an estimated $1.4 million in one month. He then signed an exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming (rumored $10 million+), proving that platforms will pay eight figures for top talent. He co-founded Offbrand, a creative agency, and hosts Mogul Money (a game show). His 2023 chess boxing event drew millions of viewers. Ludwig makes more per year than the average MLB salary ($4.9 million) while literally sleeping on stream for content.
At 20, Tfue was the highest-earning Fortnite content creator on Earth — estimated at $20 million in 2019 from tournament winnings, sponsorships, and streaming revenue. He sued FaZe Clan over an allegedly unfair contract that took 80% of his brand deal income (the lawsuit settled confidentially and sparked an industry-wide reckoning about creator contracts). At peak, he averaged 100,000+ concurrent viewers. His legal battle against FaZe was more consequential than his gameplay — it changed how every esports org structures creator deals. He made more at 20 than most NBA rookies.
DrLupo signed a rumored $10 million exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming in 2021, leaving Twitch. But his real legacy is charitable: he's raised over $13 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through gaming streams — more than most professional athletes donate in a lifetime. His 24-hour charity streams regularly raise $1 million+ per session. He earns more from his YouTube deal than most NHL players while simultaneously being one of the most generous people in entertainment. DrLupo proved that gaming wealth and genuine altruism aren't mutually exclusive. The internet desperately needed that example.
Ninja signed a $30 million exclusive deal with Mixer in 2019 — Microsoft's attempt to compete with Twitch. When Mixer shut down a year later, he kept the money AND returned to Twitch, then moved to Kick. At peak, he had 18 million Twitch followers and earned $500,000 per month from subscriptions alone. He played Fortnite with Drake on stream (635,000 concurrent viewers — a record at the time). His Adidas collaboration was the first esports shoe deal. Estimated total earnings: $40+ million. He made more from gaming in 2019 than every player on the Detroit Lions roster combined.
The French-Canadian former Overwatch pro signed a $100 million deal with Kick in 2023 — the most lucrative streaming contract ever. Before that, he was Twitch's most-watched streamer, averaging 70,000+ concurrent viewers for marathon gambling and variety streams that regularly hit 20+ hours. He streamed for 8,700+ hours in 2022 alone — that's essentially a full-time job times three. xQc earned more from his Kick deal than Jaylen Brown's NBA supermax contract ($304M over 5 years). A man who rage-quits Overwatch is worth more per year than most NFL quarterbacks.
Faker has won four League of Legends World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023) and is the undisputed greatest esports player in history. His T1 contract is reportedly $10 million per year — in a sport where most pros earn $50,000. He was offered $20 million to play in China and turned it down. His Worlds 2023 victory drew 6.4 million peak concurrent viewers — more than the NBA Finals Game 7 that year. South Korea treats him like a national treasure; his face is on billboards across Seoul. Faker earns more than most MLB starting pitchers while clicking a mouse.
Ibai went from League of Legends caster to the biggest content creator in the Spanish-speaking world — 15 million Twitch followers, 11 million on YouTube. He co-owns KOI (a professional esports team with Gerard Pique), hosts La Velada del Ano (celebrity boxing events that drew 3.4 million concurrent viewers in 2024 — more than most La Liga matches), and interviewed Lionel Messi on stream. His New Year's Eve stream in 2022 drew 2.5 million viewers — replacing traditional TV for millions of Spanish youth. Ibai doesn't compete with other streamers. He competes with television networks.
Pokimane is Twitch's most-followed female streamer (9.3 million followers) and arguably the most influential woman in gaming. She co-founded OfflineTV, launched Midnight snack brand (sold at Target), and earned an estimated $10 million in 2022 from sponsorships, subs, and brand deals. She also capped her Twitch donations at $5 to discourage parasocial spending — a genuinely ethical move that cost her real money. Pokimane earns more per year than most WNBA starting rosters combined, and she did it while being one of the few creators actively trying to make the platform less exploitative.
Former CS:GO pro Shroud signed a $10 million deal with Mixer in 2019 (joining Ninja), kept the full payout when Mixer folded, and returned to Twitch as a free agent. His aim is so precise that fans call him "the human aimbot." Peak concurrent viewership: 500,000+. His endorsement portfolio includes Logitech, HyperX, and Postmates. He later became a co-owner of Sentinels esports team. Total estimated earnings: $20+ million from streaming alone — more than many NHL players. The quietest personality on this list also has one of the fattest bank accounts.
N0tail is the highest-earning esports player in history by prize money — $7.2 million, almost entirely from winning The International twice with OG (2018 and 2019). TI9's prize pool was $34.3 million — the largest in esports history, funded entirely by player battle pass purchases. His 2019 winnings ($3.1 million for one tournament) exceeded the prize money of Wimbledon's singles champion. A Danish kid who started playing Heroes of Newerth in his bedroom earned more from two Dota tournaments than most tennis players earn in a career.
Ludwig ran a 31-day subathon in 2021 that broke Ninja's all-time Twitch subscriber record at 283,000 subs — generating an estimated $1.4 million in one month. He then signed an exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming (rumored $10 million+), proving that platforms will pay eight figures for top talent. He co-founded Offbrand, a creative agency, and hosts Mogul Money (a game show). His 2023 chess boxing event drew millions of viewers. Ludwig makes more per year than the average MLB salary ($4.9 million) while literally sleeping on stream for content.
At 20, Tfue was the highest-earning Fortnite content creator on Earth — estimated at $20 million in 2019 from tournament winnings, sponsorships, and streaming revenue. He sued FaZe Clan over an allegedly unfair contract that took 80% of his brand deal income (the lawsuit settled confidentially and sparked an industry-wide reckoning about creator contracts). At peak, he averaged 100,000+ concurrent viewers. His legal battle against FaZe was more consequential than his gameplay — it changed how every esports org structures creator deals. He made more at 20 than most NBA rookies.
DrLupo signed a rumored $10 million exclusive deal with YouTube Gaming in 2021, leaving Twitch. But his real legacy is charitable: he's raised over $13 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through gaming streams — more than most professional athletes donate in a lifetime. His 24-hour charity streams regularly raise $1 million+ per session. He earns more from his YouTube deal than most NHL players while simultaneously being one of the most generous people in entertainment. DrLupo proved that gaming wealth and genuine altruism aren't mutually exclusive. The internet desperately needed that example.
