Inspiration comes in many forms. For some, they’re inspired after watching sportspeople deliver on the world stage, while others aspire to run their own businesses in the same way many of America’s most influential business professionals do. However, there are also huge populations of people who want to become professional gamers and look up to the players who have already delivered magical wins in prestigious tournaments.
Taking part in the eSports sphere, this competitive form of gaming is now watched on all corners of the globe. When gamers aren’t playing DraftKings blackjack games with a sports-themed twist like Basketball Blackjack and swinging their way through New York City in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, watching their favorite pro players in action is an attractive proposition. With huge sums of money to earn and millions of viewers tuning in, the pressure is high, though.
For many diehard gamers, seeing these highly skilled professional players go to war and dominate in testing scenarios is motivating, especially if they have a desire to become a professional gamer themselves. Even if they don’t, professional players are the perfect example of people who turn their hobbies into lucrative careers. With that in mind, below we highlight some of the most successful professional gamers on the planet, all of whom are inspiring the next generation.
Bugha, Kyle Giersdorf
Bugha is a now-23-year-old who took the gaming world by storm when he came out on top in the inaugural Fortnite World Cup in 2019. Becoming a multi-millionaire overnight after bringing home the $3 million prize, the American gamer became an instant star. He has since gone on to earn even more millions, all while keeping his fans happy with regular live streams on Twitch.
Ninja, Richard Blevins
A force to be reckoned with on YouTube, Ninja used to tear it up on the global stage. Called Richard Blevins when he isn’t online, Ninja hasn’t won the same number of tournaments as some of the other big names on the list, but he has managed to amass a huge following thanks to his exploits on the video-sharing platform. While Ninja is no longer competing in the eSports category, he’s absolutely massive on streaming services like Twitch and YouTube, highlighting just how lucrative life can be for pro gamers even when they stop competing.
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Miposhka, Yaroslav Naidenov
Most eSports fans will tell you Dota 2 is a fiercely competitive product offering the biggest earnings. One of the most masterful players to have ever taken part in the strategy video game is Miposhka. Also known as Yaroslav Naidenov, the Russian gamer has around $5.8 million to his name at the time of writing, alongside a massive community of adoring fans.
N0tail, Johan Sundstein
For people with a passion for this enthralling form of gaming-related entertainment, N0tail is a gamer they’re fully aware of. Called Johan Sundstein away from the virtual world, N0tail is the most successful eSports player ever after reigning supreme in a number of prestigious Dota 2 events. As a result, the Dane has accumulated earnings of over $7 million, making him an incredibly wealthy individual in the process. These days, he’s giving back to the sport, having co-founded his own eSports team, OG.
Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok
Finally, we have Faker, a South Korean hero who has helped the sport grow in his country. An eSports icon in his own right, this amazing League of Legends competitor has won it all, including five World LoL Championships. With a reported yearly salary of around $5.5 million, Faker, also known as Lee Sang-hyeok, is a gamer many talented players aspire to be like.
