Top 5 Richest Players of DOTA 2 Ever
In the roster of top-earning Dota 2 players, TI champions reign supreme. But who claims the top spot?
Dota 2 is renowned for its grand tournaments that offer substantial prize pools, with The International standing out as the pinnacle event of the year, boasting millions of dollars in winnings. Valve, the developer of Dota 2, has organized 11 editions of The International along with numerous other official events, elevating the game's top players to unprecedented levels of wealth. Here's a rundown of the wealthiest Dota 2 players based on their tournament earnings.
At the top of the list is Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, a former member of OG, who holds the record for consecutive victories at The International with the same roster. N0tail's remarkable success stems from OG's triumphs at TI8, which earned them $11.2 million, and TI9, where they secured $15.6 million in winnings.
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N0tail: $7.1 million Johan "N0tail" Sundstein, a Danish player, stands as the richest Dota 2 player in terms of tournament earnings. N0tail is widely regarded as the most decorated Dota 2 player in history, having been part of the original OG team that clinched victory in four Major tournaments, each offering over one million USD in prize money. With two additional TI victories, N0tail has surpassed all other esports and Dota 2 players in terms of earnings. After setting this record, he took a lengthy hiatus before returning to competitive play with Old G in 2023.
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JerAx: $6.5 million Jesse "JerAx" Vainikka, a renowned support player, began his esports journey early and enjoyed consistent success throughout his career. JerAx achieved notable milestones with Team Liquid in 2016, finishing as runner-up in two Majors and reaching the top 8 at TI6. His career highlights include being the first player to reach the grand finals of a Valve Major four times consecutively. JerAx made history by winning two consecutive TIs before retiring. He later returned to compete with Evil Geniuses and transitioned to coaching Team Liquid, though he announced his departure from this role in late December 2022.
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ana: $6 million Anathan "ana" Pham, a carry player, commenced his esports journey in 2016 and swiftly rose to prominence. Beginning his career in the Chinese region with Invictus Gaming, ana later transitioned to Europe to play for OG. In his debut year, he secured victory at his first Dota 2 Major, the 2016 Boston Major. Notably, ana claimed victory in two Majors and back-to-back TIs in 2018 and 2019. Following periods of retirement, ana briefly returned to competitive play as a stand-in for Team Liquid at the 2022 Riyadh Masters, where the team secured $100,000 in winnings. He had a brief stint with T1 before becoming inactive.
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Ceb: $5.9 million Sébastien "Ceb" Debs commenced his competitive journey in 2011 but faced initial setbacks. After transitioning to broadcasting and coaching, Ceb answered OG's call for assistance in 2018, contributing to their consecutive TI victories. In 2022, despite stepping back from professional Dota, Ceb won his first Dota 2 Major as a stand-in with the new OG lineup. He later formed Old G with N0tail and Topson for the DPC qualifiers, though their campaign ended prematurely, leaving the team currently inactive.
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Topson: $5.7 million Topias "Topson" Taavitsainen boasts the shortest career span among the top 10 players. He entered the competitive scene in 2017 and stunned the Dota 2 community by winning TI8 with OG despite being relatively unknown. This victory earned him the title of the greatest underdog in esports. Following subsequent TI victories and a top 8 finish at TI10, Topson took a hiatus from competitive play to focus on streaming. He has since returned to action with Old G.
These players have cemented their places in Dota 2 history through their exceptional skill and success in tournaments, amassing substantial earnings and leaving an indelible mark on the esports landscape.
