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The International 2021 paid out $40,018,400 to 18 teams playing Dota 2 in Bucharest. That remains the largest prize pool in esports history. The top 10 all-time biggest tournaments are dominated by Dota 2, Fortnite, and mobile games — not the titles that get the most casual attention in the UK.
Here’s the full ranked list of the biggest esports prize pools ever, the 2025 major tournament results, and how much the top games pay out across the whole season.
$40m
All-time record — TI 2021
$5m
LoL Worlds 2025 prize pool
$2.88m
The International 2025
$1.25m
CS2 Major prize pool
All-Time Top 20 Biggest Esports Prize Pools
Source: esportsearnings.com — the most comprehensive public database of esports prize pools, tracking verified tournament payouts since 2000. Figures in USD.
| Rank | Tournament | Game | Prize Pool (USD) | Year | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The International 2021 | Dota 2 | $40,018,400 | 2021 | 18 |
| 2 | The International 2019 | Dota 2 | $34,330,069 | 2019 | 18 |
| 3 | The International 2018 | Dota 2 | $25,532,177 | 2018 | 18 |
| 4 | The International 2017 | Dota 2 | $24,687,919 | 2017 | 18 |
| 5 | The International 2016 | Dota 2 | $20,770,460 | 2016 | 16 |
| 6 | The International 2022 | Dota 2 | $18,930,256 | 2022 | 20 |
| 7 | The International 2015 | Dota 2 | $18,429,613 | 2015 | 16 |
| 8 | Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 (Solo) | Fortnite | $15,287,500 | 2019 | — |
| 9 | Riyadh Masters 2023 | Dota 2 | $15,120,000 | 2023 | 32 |
| 10 | Fortnite World Cup Finals 2019 (Duo) | Fortnite | $15,100,000 | 2019 | 50 |
| 11 | The International 2014 | Dota 2 | $10,931,103 | 2014 | 14 |
| 12 | Honor of Kings Intl Championship 2022 | Honor of Kings | $10,000,000 | 2022 | 16 |
| 13 | Honor of Kings Intl Championship 2023 | Honor of Kings | $9,747,685 | 2023 | 16 |
| 14 | King Pro League Grand Finals 2024 | Honor of Kings | $9,678,529 | 2024 | 12 |
| 15 | Riyadh Masters 2024 | Dota 2 | $5,050,000 | 2024 | 21 |
| 16 | LoL World Championship 2025 | League of Legends | $5,000,000 | 2025 | 17 |
| 17 | LoL World Championship 2018 | League of Legends | $6,450,000 | 2018 | 24 |
| 18 | PGI.S 2021 Main Event | PUBG | $7,068,071 | 2021 | 32 |
| 19 | Call of Duty League Championship 2020 | Call of Duty | $4,600,000 | 2020 | 10 |
| 20 | VALORANT Champions 2023 | Valorant | $2,250,000 | 2023 | 16 |
📊
Why Honor of Kings Appears So High
Honor of Kings (known as Arena of Valor outside China) is one of the highest-grossing mobile games in the world — primarily in Southeast Asia and China. Its King Pro League and international championships consistently offer prize pools of $7–10m. Despite near-zero coverage in UK gaming media, its tournament ecosystem pays out more in total than CS2 and Valorant combined.
Dota 2’s The International — Why It Pays the Most
The International (TI) is Valve’s annual Dota 2 world championship, first held in 2011 with a $1 million prize pool. What makes it unique is how the prize pool is funded: a portion of every Battle Pass sold in Dota 2 goes directly into the TI prize pool. At its peak in 2021, players spent enough on Battle Passes to push the pool to $40 million — more than 25 times the next richest non-Dota tournament at the time.
| Year | Prize Pool | Winner | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,881,466 | Team Falcons | TBC |
| 2023 | $3,380,904 | Team Spirit | Seattle |
| 2022 | $18,930,256 | Tundra Esports | Singapore |
| 2021 | $40,018,400 | Team Spirit | Bucharest |
| 2019 | $34,330,069 | OG | Shanghai |
| 2018 | $25,532,177 | OG | Vancouver |
| 2017 | $24,687,919 | Team Liquid | Seattle |
| 2016 | $20,770,460 | Wings Gaming | Seattle |
| 2015 | $18,429,613 | Evil Geniuses | Seattle |
| 2014 | $10,931,103 | Newbee | Seattle |
| 2013 | $2,874,381 | Alliance | Seattle |
| 2011 | $1,600,000 | Natus Vincere | Cologne |
📉
Why Did TI Prize Pools Drop After 2021?
Valve ended the Battle Pass funding model for TI after 2023, moving to a fixed prize pool funded directly by Valve. The TI 2025 pool of $2.88m — down from $40m in 2021 — reflects that structural change. The community has had mixed reactions: the crowdfunding model created massive prize pools but was criticised for monetising the playerbase aggressively to fund professional prize money.
2025 Major Tournament Results & Prize Pools
| Tournament | Game | Prize Pool | Winner | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LoL World Championship 2025 | League of Legends | $5,000,000 | T1 | Oct–Nov 2025 |
| The International 2025 | Dota 2 | $2,881,466 | Team Falcons | 2025 |
| PGL CS2 Major (2025) | Counter-Strike 2 | $1,250,000 | TBC | 2025 |
| VALORANT Champions 2025 | Valorant | $2,250,000 | TBC | 2025 |
| Fortnite Championship Series 2025 | Fortnite | ~$4,000,000 | TBC | 2025 |
| Riyadh Masters 2025 | Dota 2 | ~$5,000,000 | TBC | 2025 |
🏆
T1 — Three Consecutive LoL World Championships
T1, the South Korean League of Legends organisation, won the LoL World Championship in 2023, 2024, and 2025 — becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to win three in a row. Their roster is built around superstar mid-laner Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok), widely considered the greatest LoL player ever. The 2025 final was held in Chengdu, China, where T1 defeated fellow Korean side KT Rolster 3–2.
Biggest Prize Pools by Game (Cumulative All-Time)
Individual tournament prize pools are one measure. Total prize money paid out across all tournaments in a game’s history tells a different story about which esports have the deepest professional ecosystems.
| Rank | Game | Total Prize Money (est.) | Biggest Single Event | Peak Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dota 2 | $300m+ | TI 2021 — $40m | 2021 |
| 2 | League of Legends | $100m+ | Worlds 2018 — $6.45m | 2018 |
| 3 | Counter-Strike (CS:GO / CS2) | $100m+ | Multiple Majors — $1.25m each | 2021–2024 |
| 4 | Fortnite | $80m+ | World Cup 2019 Solo — $15.3m | 2019 |
| 5 | Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor | $70m+ | Intl Championship 2022 — $10m | 2022–2024 |
| 6 | PUBG / PUBG Mobile | $60m+ | PGI.S 2021 — $7m | 2021 |
| 7 | Valorant | $30m+ | Champions 2023/24 — $2.25m | 2023 |
| 8 | Overwatch | $25m+ | OWL Season 2 Playoffs — $3.5m | 2019 |
| 9 | Rainbow Six Siege | $20m+ | Six Invitational — $3m | 2021–2024 |
| 10 | StarCraft II | $15m+ | IEM Katowice — ~$500k | 2019 |
UK Esports Teams in Major Tournaments
🇬🇧
Fnatic
Founded 2004
🇬🇧
Excel Esports
LEC franchise
🇫🇷🇬🇧
Team Vitality
CS2 Major 2023 winner
🇬🇧
Team Liquid (UK players)
TI winners (2x)
SCO
UK Esports by the Numbers
The UK esports industry was worth approximately £111 million in 2024 according to Ukie. Fnatic, founded in London in 2004, is one of the oldest and most decorated esports organisations in the world — with major titles across CS:GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2. The UK also hosts ESL One Birmingham, one of the Dota 2 Dota Pro Circuit Major events, which draws 10,000+ attendees to the Utilita Arena.
- Fnatic (London) — CS:GO Major winner 2018; LEC franchise; Valorant Champions runner-up 2021
- Excel Esports (London) — LEC (EU LoL) franchise slot; founded 2014
- Team Vitality (Paris/London) — CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 defending champion; multiple LEC playoff appearances
- ESL One Birmingham — annual Dota 2 Major hosted in Birmingham’s Utilita Arena; ~$500k prize pool
- UK players in CS2 — Ben “Bence” Dési (British-Hungarian), multiple UK-born players on Tier 1 rosters
FAQ
What is the biggest esports prize pool ever?
The largest single esports prize pool in history is The International 2021 (Dota 2), which paid out $40,018,400 across 18 teams. The prize pool was crowdfunded through in-game Battle Pass purchases, with 25% of all Battle Pass revenue going into the pool. Second place is The International 2019 at $34.3 million.
Who won The International 2025?
Team Falcons won The International 2025, Dota 2’s annual world championship. The prize pool was $2,881,466 — significantly lower than the 2021 peak of $40m, following Valve’s decision to end the crowdfunded Battle Pass funding model and replace it with a fixed prize pool funded directly by Valve.
How much is the League of Legends World Championship prize pool?
The LoL World Championship 2025 had a prize pool of $5,000,000, won by T1 who claimed their third consecutive world title. The 2018 edition remains the highest LoL Worlds prize pool at $6,450,000. Riot Games funds the pool directly — it does not use a crowdfunding model like Dota 2’s TI.
How much does a CS2 Major pay out?
CS2 (Counter-Strike 2) Valve Majors have a prize pool of $1,250,000 per event, split across 24 participating teams. Two Majors are typically held per year. The CS2 competitive ecosystem also includes additional prize money from third-party tournaments like BLAST Premier and IEM events, which add significantly to annual earnings for top teams.
What is the total esports prize money paid out in history?
Total prize money paid out across all esports tournaments since 2000 exceeds $2 billion, based on esportsearnings.com data. Dota 2 alone accounts for over $300 million of that total, driven by The International’s crowdfunded prize pools between 2013 and 2022. League of Legends and Counter-Strike/CS2 each account for over $100 million.
Which esport pays players the most?
Dota 2 has historically paid the most to individual players through The International’s prize pool distribution. The TI 2021 winner’s share alone was over $18 million split between five players — roughly $3.6 million per person. The highest individual esports earner of all time is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein (OG, Dota 2) with over $7 million in career prize money.
