Ranking The 10 Largest Esports Prize Pools of All Time

When people think about the biggest prize pools in esports, Dota 2’s The International is usually the first thing that comes to mind. For years, it set the benchmark and redefined how much money could be put on the line in competitive gaming.

But esports has grown far beyond a single title. Different games, regions, and formats have all contributed to massive prize pools over the years. While not every event matches The International at its peak, many have still delivered life-changing winnings and helped shape their respective scenes.

Here’s a look at some of the largest prize pool events across esports history.

10. PGL Major Stockholm 2021 (CS:GO) – $2,000,000

• Winner: Natus Vincere
• Location: Stockholm, Sweden

This event marked a key moment for Counter-Strike. It was the first Major after the pandemic disrupted global competition, and it doubled the previous prize pool record for a CS:GO Major.

Beyond the numbers, it helped bring the scene back to life. Packed arenas and high-level play reminded everyone why Counter-Strike remains one of the most stable esports ecosystems.

9. Six Invitational 2019 (Rainbow Six Siege) – $3,000,000

• Winner: G2 Esports
• Location: Quebec, Canada

Rainbow Six Siege has built one of the more structured competitive scenes in esports. The Six Invitational stands out not just for its prize pool, but for how the game emphasizes strategy and long-term team development.

It may not always dominate headlines, but its consistency has kept it relevant.

8. PUBG Global Championship 2021 – $4,000,000

• Winner: NewHappy
• Location: Incheon, South Korea

Battle royale esports can be difficult to sustain, but PUBG managed to deliver one of the biggest prize pools in the genre.

The 2021 championship showed that, with the right structure, large-scale battle royale events can still compete financially with more traditional esports titles.

7. Call of Duty League Championship 2020 – $4,600,000

• Winner: Dallas Empire
• Location: Online

This remains the largest prize pool in Call of Duty esports. It also highlighted the league’s franchise system, which mirrors traditional sports with city-based teams and structured competition.

Even with ups and downs in the league’s growth, this event set a high benchmark for console esports.

6. League of Legends World Championship 2018 – $6,000,000

• Winner: Invictus Gaming
• Location: South Korea

League of Legends consistently leads in viewership, but its prize pools are more controlled compared to other esports.

Riot Games has focused on long-term stability, including salaries and revenue sharing, rather than pushing prize pools to extreme levels. Worlds 2018 still delivered a strong payout while maintaining that approach.

5. Honor of Kings World Championship 2022 – $10,000,000

• Winner: eStar Pro
• Location: Beijing, China

This event highlights the scale of mobile esports, particularly in China. Honor of Kings operates on a level that is often underestimated outside the region.

With a $10 million prize pool, it stands as the largest mobile esports tournament to date.

4. Riyadh Masters 2023 (Dota 2) – $15,000,000

• Winner: Team Spirit
• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh Masters 2023 became the biggest non-Valve Dota 2 tournament ever. It also showed how third-party organizers could match or even rival official events in terms of prize money.

The tournament was part of a larger multi-title festival, setting the stage for even bigger global events.

3. Fortnite World Cup 2019 – $30,400,000

• Winner (Solo): Bugha
• Location: New York, USA

The Fortnite World Cup remains one of the most impactful esports events ever. Its open qualification system allowed players from around the world to compete, making it widely accessible.

The massive prize pool and mainstream attention pushed esports further into global pop culture.

2. The International 2021 (Dota 2) – $40,000,000+

• Winner: Team Spirit
• Location: Bucharest, Romania

This event holds the record for the largest single-title esports prize pool. Funded through Valve’s Battle Pass system, it allowed players to contribute directly to the prize pool.

It represented the peak of crowdfunding in esports and set a standard that has yet to be matched by a single-game event.

1. Esports World Cup 2025 – $70,000,000+

• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Esports World Cup 2025 stands at the top with over $70 million in total prize money. Unlike traditional tournaments, it combines multiple games into a single global event.

This format brings together different esports under one umbrella, creating a large-scale competition that resembles a multi-sport event.

Looking ahead, the 2026 edition is expected to push the total even higher, continuing the trend of large, multi-title esports festivals.

Esports Prize Pools Have Come a Long Way

Prize pools have always been one way to measure the growth of esports, but they also reflect how the industry is evolving.

From crowdfunding systems to publisher-backed leagues and global multi-title events, each entry on this list represents a different approach. Together, they show how competitive gaming has expanded across platforms, regions, and formats while continuing to raise the stakes for players worldwide.