Featured image: Microsoft Copilot
Earning a living as a gamer is now possible through live streaming, game testing and competitive gaming. In recent years professional esports players are reaching celebrity status and earning impressive salaries. Below are some of the top earning esports professionals, counting down from 10 to 5:
- KuroKy: Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi is of German and Iranian nationality whose professional esports career started at the age of 16 with Dota, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) strategy game. He featured in the German team mousesports, and transitioned to Dota 2, where he debuted at The International in 2011, steadily building his reputation in the Dota 2 community. He joined the team Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) in 2013 where he achieved high finishes including second at The International 2013. Post Na’Vi, he co-founded the team Team Secret in 2014, where they faced an early exit at The International 2015. He then captained the team 5Jungz (now Team Liquid) leading to notable victories at The International 2017. KuroKy is now with Nigma Galaxy, with overall earnings of $5,291,422.93.
- Mira: Miroslav “Mira” Kolpakov is a Ukrainian born esports player known for his significant impact and success in the esports scene. He is known as Mira in the Dota 2 community, and joined Team Spirit in 2021, as the final piece for their championship-winning roster for The International 10. Initially on loan from Cascade, Mira quickly established himself as a key contributor to the team’s success and as such has become a two-time winner of The International, for the years 2021 and 2023 alongside his teammates Yatoro, Miposhka, Collapse and coach Silent. His overall earnings are $5,407,579.65 and is an invaluable asset to Team Spirit with his ability to assist his teammates and high level of gameplay.
- Collapse: Magomed Khalilov, known in the Dota 2 community as “Collapse” is a professional esports player who hails from Russia and is a member of Team Spirit. His break into the esports scene was in 2017, where he reached 6000 MMR (i.e. Matchmaking Rating — determines in-game skill level of players against players who share the same skill) and formed an amateur team, entering into smaller tournaments and then later the Russian Esports Cup. Collapse’s significant leap into professional Dota 2 happened when he was invited to Cascade and played for 8 months, where he earned a salary for the first time. His performances caught the attention of the coach for Yellow Submarine, Korb3n, who then integrated him into the team with Yatoro, Miposhka and TORONTOTOKYO. The end of 2020 marked a turning point for him when the Yellow Submarine roster was acquired by Team Spirit. His overall earnings are $5,421,792.67 and has a vital role in the achievements of Team Spirit.
- Yatoro: Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk is a celebrated Ukrainian Dota 2 esports player with Team Spirit. Yatoro reached 11,000 MMR in April, 2021, and further elevated his status to 12,000 MMR in November, 2021. He showed his adaptability on full display during The International 10, playing 14 different heroes across 20 games, which contributed to Team Spirit’s championship victory. He is a two-time winner at The International for the years 2021 and 2023 alongside teammates Collapse, Mira, Miposhka and coach Silent. His overall earnings are $5,425,553.55 and is revered for his versatility and high skill level.
- Miposhka: Yaroslav Nadeinov is widely recognized in the Dota 2 community as “Miposhka” who gained attention in The International 2017, marking his first appearance as the captain of Team Empire and led the team to victory over the Evil Geniuses – ending in a 2-0. He has been with teams such as Team Singularity and HellRaisers before he returned to Yellow Submarine. After Yellow Submarine was acquired by Team Spirit, his captaincy led the team to clinch the Aegis of Champions at The International 10. His leadership was pivotal at The International 2021 and The International 2023 where he won with teammates Collapse, Mira and Yatoro and coach Silent. His overall earnings are $5,653,952.09 and holds the record for highest average deaths per game (8.38), cementing his status in the Dota 2 esports arena.
Summary
The viability of esports as a career continues to show with these professional esports players being among the leading examples. With consistency through hardwork and determination, players can push themselves to acquire a high skill level and be formidable figures in the esports scene.
Esports has helped create jobs for lots of people. Interested in knowing about the business side of esports? Listen to the Gamers Change Lives Podcast! We get experienced guests from all around the world featuring.
Written by Jeffrey Osei-Agyeman
