Score Big: The Richest Gamers In The World (2024)

Not long ago, playing video games was dismissed as a frivolous pastime. Today, video gaming has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry with millions of players competing virtually in various online games. The advent of professional esports has transformed gaming into a lucrative career for the crème de la crème of gamers. These digital athletes have become celebrities in their own right, displaying their skills by streaming them on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.

They boast massive followings, rake in millions from tournaments, endorsem*nts, and merchandise sales, and have become the epitome of modern-day fame. The COVID pandemic accelerated this trend, with the global gaming community swelling to nearly a billion. Let’s explore the net worth of some of the richest gamers in the world and how they made their fortunes in the gaming industry.

7 Evan Fong (VanossGaming)

VanossGaming’s Net Worth (Estimated): $25,000,000

Evan Fong is a man of many talents, known widely in the gaming world by his alias, Vanoss. A former ice hockey player, Fong's transition to full-time gaming has yielded immense success, earning him the Trending Gamer of 2014 award at The Game Awards. The Canadian polymath runs one of the biggest YouTube gaming channels, with 25.9 million subscribers and 16.09 billion views.

He launched his YouTube channel in 2011, and after six years of producing captivating gaming content, Forbes named him the top influencer in the industry in 2017. That same year, Techwiser ranked him the second-highest earning gamer, with an impressive income of $15.5 million. His earnings continued to soar, reaching $18.5 million in 2018 and $11.5 million in 2019.

Vanoss also branched out into entrepreneurship, co-founding 3BlackDot with Tom Cassell and Adam Montoya, and later sold the entertainment company for $87 million in 2022. Vanoss generates significant revenue from his merchandise sales and has also performed as a voice actor in two animated series, Paranormal Action Squad and Alpha Betas.

He extends his creative reach into music production, churning out beats in electronic dance music, downtempo, and indie electronic genres while also pioneering the creative vision for the horror-style game Dead Realm since 2015. Through his wide-ranging ventures and remarkable skillset, VanossGaming has earned a net worth of $25 million.

6 Preston Arsem*nt (Preston & Preston Playz)

Preston Arsem*nt's Net Worth (Estimated): $25,000,000

Preston Arsem*nt has established a notable footprint across multiple YouTube platforms as a highly productive content maker. His two flagship channels, Preston and Preston Playz, have collectively amassed over 42.9 million subscribers. The former has accumulated over 10.2 billion views, whereas the latter has attracted 6.62 billion views.

Arsem*nt's diverse content portfolio, which includes gaming videos, vlogs, challenge videos, and pranks, draws millions of viewers and generates considerable cash flow. According to a conservative estimate of $3,000 per million views, the Texas-based gamer has earned $50.46 million solely from ad revenue on his channels.

In 2022, Forbes ranked Arsem*nt as the 10th highest-paid creator, with earnings of $16 million; in 2023, he was Forbes' 16th top creator, earning over $34.6 million. His extensive media and gaming operations, including a large-scale warehouse selling merchandise and accessories, have expanded his revenue streams, propelling him to multi-millionaire status. Today, Preston Arsem*nt has an estimated net worth of $25 million.

5 Daniel Middleton (DanTDM)

DanTDM's Net Worth (Estimated): $35,000,000

DanTDM covers a wide range of games in his videos, including popular titles like Minecraft, Roblox, Pokémon, and Sonic the Hedgehog. His Minecraft avatar has gained massive recognition, leading to a Guinness World Record for the most views on a Minecraft-based channel, with over 7.9 billion views in 2016.

His channel is consistently listed among the top YouTube channels in the United Kingdom. In 2015, he was ranked as one of the most popular YouTubers worldwide by viewership. Two years later, the English YouTuber topped the Forbes list of Highest-Paid YouTube Stars, earning approximately $16.5 million in one year.

DanTDM's YouTube channel has amassed over 28.8 million subscribers and 19.89 billion video views, earning him approximately $60 million from ad revenue throughout his YouTube career. The consistent flow of substantial earnings over the past few years has enhanced his net worth to a remarkable $35 million.

In addition to his YouTube income, DanTDM's graphic novel, Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal, became a bestseller, and his merchandise business generates millions annually. He also produced a web series, DanTDM Creates a Big Scene, starring himself and featuring other social media entertainers and actors.

4 Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye)

Jacksepticeye's Net Worth (Estimated): $40 Million

Seán McLoughlin began uploading videos to YouTube as jacksepticeye in December 2012, initially focusing on voice impressions before switching to gameplay content. His channel gained traction after this transition, reaching one million subscribers in 2014 and ten million by 2016, making it the most-subscribed Irish channel.

Today, Jacksepticeye's channel has garnered over 30.7 million subscribers and more than 16.87 billion total views. Jacksepticeye's eclectic taste in games, ranging from mainstream titles to more obscure and unconventional choices, has contributed to the appeal of his channel. Estimates suggest that jacksepticeye has earned $50 million in ad revenue from his channel.

Jacksepticeye's influence and earnings have been featured in numerous media lists and rankings. In 2018, Forbes ranked him the eighth highest-paid YouTuber, with an estimated income of $16 million. The following year, he was listed again by Forbes as the eighth highest-paid gamer, with earnings of $11 million.

In 2023, he ranked 15th on Forbes' Top Creators list and was the eighth highest-paid creator, with an estimated income of $27 million. Expanding his business ventures, he co-founded the clothing brand Cloak and established Top of the Mornin' Coffee. Jacksepticeye has also expanded his presence in various media.

He made a cameo in the Ryan Reynolds' action comedy film Free Guy. He voiced Pirate Jack in the Netflix animated series Sonic Prime, based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Jacksepticeye currently has an estimated net worth of $40 million.

3 Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg (PewDiePie)

PewDiePie's Net Worth (Estimated): $45 Million

It is fair to say that PewDiePie was the first to conquer YouTube, as his channel was among the first to achieve widespread recognition for streaming games on the platform. His unparalleled popularity, coupled with extensive media coverage, made him one of the most prominent online personalities and content creators.

In December 2014, his channel became the most viewed on YouTube, having amassed over 7 billion views by that date. Today, with over 111 million subscribers and 29.4 billion views, his channel ranks among the most-subscribed and most-viewed on the platform. His influence online has also been noted to significantly boost sales for the video games he plays, demonstrating his impact on the gaming industry.

In his early years as a YouTube creator, PewDiePie primarily focused on video game commentaries, particularly in the horror and action genres. His early content featured playthroughs of popular games like Minecraft and Call of Duty, but he gained recognition for streaming Lets Plays of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

His content extended beyond gaming to include comedy sketches, short films, music videos, formatted shows, and vlogs. In 2020, PewDiePie scaled back his YouTube presence, choosing to upload content at a leisurely pace for personal enjoyment rather than as a full-time profession. Even past his prime, his channel generates over 20 million views monthly and still holds court as the most-subscribed gaming channel on YouTube.

The Swedish internet celebrity also owns several business ventures. Alongside his wife, Marzia, he launched Tsuki, a unisex clothing label that quickly became a sensation in 2019. He authored the self-help book This Book Loves You, a New York Times Best Seller in the Young Adult Paperback category.

Estimates suggest that PewDiePie has earned over $87.3 million from ad revenue throughout his YouTube career, while he reportedly commands a fee of $450,000 per sponsored video. Adding up his earnings since 2013, PewDiePie has amassed over $73 million pre-tax from his YouTube empire. Given his expansive and multifaceted empire, it is hardly a shock that PewDiePie's net worth is valued at $45 million.

2 Mark Edward Fischbach (Markiplier)

Markiplier's Net Worth (Estimated): $45 Million

Markiplier is one of the foremost figures in the gaming world, with his influence rapidly expanding globally, particularly due to his horror gaming content. After joining YouTube in 2012, the part-time filmmaker gained popularity with his Lets Plays of Amnesia: The Dark Descent and the Five Nights at Freddy's series. His distinctive style, punctuated by heart-stopping horror scenes, has forged an unbreakable bond with his audience.

Although he rose to fame with gaming content, Markiplier initially started his YouTube channel with comedy sketches, showcasing his exceptional talents in acting and writing. Quickly recognizing the potential of trending gaming content, he pivoted his focus, unlocking a path to unparalleled success. Markiplier's YouTube channel currently has over 36.8 million subscribers and 21.67 billion total views. In 2022, Forbes ranked him as the third highest-paid content creator on the platform, with earnings exceeding $38 million.

Estimates suggest Markiplier has earned approximately $65 million in ad revenue over the lifetime of his channel. Much like other top gamers, he is a jack of many trades, effortlessly juggling various pursuits with ease and finesse. Markiplier's insatiable appetite for innovation led him to sign with William Morris Endeavor agency in 2016, marking a bold foray into traditional entertainment.

Over the following years, he went on a live tour and wrote and directed the YouTube Original series A Heist with Markiplier and In Space with Markiplier. In October 2018, Markiplier and fellow YouTuber Jacksepticeye introduced Cloak, a clothing line aimed at the gaming community. His online platforms consistently generate between $10 to $30 million in annual revenue. According to Forbes, Markiplier earned $30 million in 2023. He has built a net worth of $45 million through his lucrative blend of creativity and commerce.

1 Tyler Blevins (Ninja)

Ninja's Net Worth (Estimated): $50 Million

Ninja's dominance and status as the richest gamer stem from his extensive presence across multiple platforms. His Twitch channel has over 19 million followers, making it the most-followed Twitch channel. Ninja began his streaming career by participating in various esports teams and competing in Halo 3 tournaments.

He rose to fame when he started playing Fortnite Battle Royale in late 2017. His mainstream breakthrough came in March 2018, when he played Fortnite with Drake and Travis Scott on stream, breaking the peak viewer count record on Twitch. In addition to his vast following on Twitch, Ninja has over 24 million subscribers on YouTube, with more than 2.68 billion total views. He reportedly earns over $500,000 per month from streaming Fortnite.

His widespread exposure has led to lucrative partnerships with global brands such as Red Bull, Adidas, Uber Eats, and NZXT, earning him millions. In 2019, the four-time Streamy Award winner moved his stream to Mixer as part of a partnership with Microsoft. However, when Microsoft shut down Mixer in 2020, a forced buyout clause resulted in Ninja receiving $30 million. Like Jacksepticeye, Ninja also appeared in Ryan Reynolds' action comedy Free Guy and voiced the character Party Monster in the animated monster comedy film Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania.

In December 2018, Ninja estimated he had made close to $10 million that year. Epic Games reported over $3 billion in revenue for the same year, largely due to Fortnite, with Ninja's influence playing a significant role in the massive turnover. Reports indicate that he was paid $1 million by Electronic Arts to promote Apex Legends, a rival battle royale game to Fortnite. Ninja is the richest gamer in the world, with a net worth of $50 million.