Some of our parents told us we’d never amount to anything by staring at a video game all day, but these clubs have proven them wrong. Esports is a massive business in today’s world, and just like their on-field counterparts, esports teams have rosters of players in each game and can make millions in corporate sponsorship money. Also, like traditional sports teams, there are legacy clubs that have millions of fans and can sell out arenas.
Some major events, like the annual international tournament for each game, give out more than $10 million in prize money for the winning club. Second place can earn more than $5 million, and clubs can bankroll their entire seasons off success at these singular events.
Esports are the wave of the future, but there are teams that were ahead of the curve — even dating as far back as the turn of the century. They have earned lucrative payouts; however, some have also fallen on hard times and folded. These are the 30 most successful esports teams in terms of prize money earned.
18. G2 Esports
Founded: 2014
Location: Berlin, Germany
Key partners: Adidas, AIMLAB, AOC, AORUS, BMW, Hidac Technology, Lenovo, Logitech, MasterCard, nicecactus, Paysafecard, Phillips, Pringles, Red Bull, SecretLab, Twitch
Earnings: $8.25 million
