When I was a kid, my mom always said I’d never make a living playing video games. Well, the joke’s on her! It turns out that gaming isn’t just a hobby; it’s a goldmine if you’re good enough. Some esports teams have made millions just from prize money alone, and that’s not even counting sponsorships or other deals.
Want to know what team is the richest? I’ve got the top five richest esports teams right here, along with how they made their fortunes. Let’s start with the biggest earner on the list.
Team Liquid
Team Liquid started way back in 2000 as a small StarCraft: Brood War clan, founded by Victor “Nazgul” Goossens in the Netherlands. Fast forward to today, and it’s one of the biggest names in esports, competing in pretty much everything — Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Rainbow Six, and more. If there’s a big tournament, chances are Team Liquid has a squad in it.
Dota 2 has been one of their strongest games, and they’ve got the trophies to prove it. They won The International (the biggest Dota 2 tournament) in 2017 and again in 2024, which is a huge deal since no other organization has done it with two different rosters. That’s like winning the Super Bowl with a completely different team.
Now, let’s talk money – Team Liquid has made a ridiculous amount of it. We’re talking over $54 million from almost 3,000 tournaments. That’s the most of any esports team ever!
It’s not exactly shocking when you consider how often they’re competing. Some tournaments have paid off greatly — like The International 2024, where they took home $1.24 million. Others? Not so much. For example, in 2024, they won the 1win Series Dota 2 Fall tournament, taking home $50,000 for their first-place finish. Not every event is life-changing money.
In 2025, they’re still putting up strong results. They won PGL Wallachia Season 3 in Dota 2, beating Tundra Esports 3-1 in the grand finals. On the flip side, their League of Legends squad had a rough time at First Stand 2025, getting knocked out early by Hanwha Life Esports.
When it comes to star players, Michael “miCKe” Vu and Michał “Nisha” Jankowski have been carrying the Dota squad, pulling off clutch plays and keeping Liquid in the fight for top titles.
OG
OG is the complete opposite of Team Liquid when it comes to making money in esports. While Liquid grinds out thousands of tournaments, OG has played in just over 200 — yet they’ve still pulled in around $38 million. That’s an insane earnings-per-tournament rate, and it’s all thanks to their legendary Dota 2 runs.
The team was founded in 2015 by Johan “N0tail” Sundstein and Tal “Fly” Aizik, originally under the name (monkey) Business before rebranding to OG. Early on, they dominated Dota 2 Majors, winning four of them between 2015 and 2017.
However, their real claim to fame was back-to-back wins at The International in 2018 and 2019, making them the first and only team to ever do that. Those two tournaments alone earned them over $26.8 million — nearly 70% of their total winnings.
OG has hit a rough patch lately. They missed TI12, had some roster issues, and are now trying to rebuild. Their 3rd-place finish at Asian Dragon Continental Collision in 2025 earned them $8,000, but recent results haven’t been great, with an eight-match losing streak and a 20% win rate this past month. Still, they continue to play, hoping to turn things around.
Team Spirit
Team Spirit is another esports team that proves you don’t need to play many tournaments to make serious cash. They’ve participated in just 254 tournaments but have raked over $31 million in prize money.
Founded in 2015, Team Spirit initially flew under the radar. Their big break came in 2021 when they won The International 10 (TI10), Dota 2’s most prestigious tournament. They defeated PSG.LGD in a thrilling 3-2 grand final, taking home a whopping $18.2 million. This victory catapulted Team Spirit into the upper echelons of esports, making them one of the highest-earning teams globally.
Unlike some teams that peak once and fade away, Spirit has stayed on top. They won The International 2023 (TI12), proving their TI10 run wasn’t just luck. That victory brought them another $1.5 million, and they didn’t stop there. In 2025, they took first place at DreamLeague Season 25, adding another $250,000 to the bank.
A huge part of their success comes down to their insanely skilled roster. Yatoro, Collapse, and Miposhka have been crushing it for years, while newer additions like rue have helped keep them at the top.
Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses is the definition of a multi-game menace. Unlike teams that stick to just one or two esports, EG has been everywhere — Dota 2, Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Halo, Call of Duty, even StarCraft back in the day. That’s their thing: they’re one of the most versatile organizations in esports and have racked up $28.5 million in winnings across over 1,000 tournaments.
Evil Geniuses was founded in 1999, but their biggest moment came in 2015 when they won The International 5 (TI5) in Dota 2. That one tournament alone brought them $6.6 million, making it their highest-earning event. Since then, they’ve stayed relevant by constantly adapting, whether it’s dominating in Halo, winning the Call of Duty World League Championship in 2018, or putting together a solid Counter-Strike squad.
EG’s Dota 2 team is still their pride and joy, though things have not been that good lately. They placed 9th-12th at The International 2023, a decent result but nowhere near their past glory. Meanwhile, their Counter-Strike team had a rough 2024, missing several big tournaments, though they’re still pushing to rebuild.
Still, even after 25 years in the game, EG refuses to be just another team. They jump into new games, rebuild when things go south, and somehow keep finding ways to stay in the conversation.
NAVI
Natus Vincere, or NAVI, has been around since 2009, and they’ve built one of the most legendary brands in esports. They are at the top across multiple games, but Counter-Strike is where they really made their name. With $19.6 million in total earnings from almost 700 tournaments, they’ve been a force to be reckoned with.
NAVI’s biggest claim to fame was in 2021, when they won the Intel Grand Slam without losing a single map. That’s not just a big deal — it’s huge. That one win netted them $1 million, and they followed that up by winning the PGL Major Stockholm for another $1 million.
But it’s not just CS:GO. NAVI’s Dota 2 team made waves back in the day, too. In 2011, they won The International 2011, taking home $1 million, which was massive for Dota at the time. They also made three straight TI finals from 2011 to 2013, something only a few teams have done. One of the latest NAVI achievements is a win in the 2024 PGL Copenhagen Major, where they took home $500,000.
As for players, s1mple is obviously the biggest name. He’s pretty much considered the best CS:GO player of all time, and he’s been the backbone of NAVI’s success for years.
You can’t talk about NAVI without mentioning Dendi, too—he was the face of the team during their Dota 2 glory days, and even though he’s now playing for the B8 organization he founded, he’s still remembered as one of the best.
Final thoughts
When you’re the best at what you do, the money follows—and these teams prove it. And that’s just prize money. Sponsorships, merchandise, content creation, and even in-game items add huge amounts to their earnings. Take NAVI’s s1mple, for example—besides his tournament winnings, he’s landed big sponsorship deals with Logitech, Puma, and Philips OneBlade. Many top players also have Twitch and YouTube channels, making even more through streaming and ads.
As for you? Esports isn’t just for the pros. You can start earning on esports too, if not by playing, then by betting on the best. Check out our esports betting guides on Dota 2 and CS:GO to get started.
FAQ
Can I use crypto for esports betting?
Yes, you can! Many platforms now accept crypto esports betting, including popular currencies like Bitcoin. It’s a faster, cheaper, more private, and more secure way to place bets on your favorite teams and players than traditional online betting.
What are the advantages of Bitcoin esports betting?
Bitcoin esports betting has a few key benefits. For one, it’s super quick—you can deposit and withdraw in minutes without worrying about long bank processing times. Plus, Bitcoin transactions are typically lower in fees compared to traditional banking methods. If you’re into crypto esports betting, it’s a great way to keep your bets secure and convenient.
Is it safe to bet on esports with Bitcoin?
Yes, betting on esports with Bitcoin is generally safe as long as you’re using a trusted platform. Many esports betting sites are based on blockchain and have strong security measures in place, making betting transparent and safe. Just make sure you’re on a legit site, and you’ll enjoy a safe and smooth betting experience with your crypto.
