Nowadays, there are different ways for gamers to make it big. From first-person shooter games (FPS) and online chess, to blackjack, horse race betting, and poker, players with the skill and talent for certain games can start earning millions of dollars a year. In the world of eSports, opportunities like the Call of Duty (COD) League and other tournaments have enabled professional players to start earning elite salaries, which brings us to our first mega-rich gamer.
Crimsix: $1.1 Million
At an estimated net worth of around $1.1 million, Crimsix is currently the richest competitive FPS player on the planet, topping Essentially Sports’ list of the most successful COD players. It’s no wonder that in some circles, Crimsix is known as the greatest COD player of all time. Meanwhile, also making the list are fellow COD veterans Clayster and Scump, whose respective net worth of $1 million and $800,000 means they are not far behind. While these amounts are still a stretch from the next gargantuan entries on this list, they underscore how the world of eSports is opening many millionaire-level opportunities for skilled shooters.
Magnus Carlsen: $8 Million
In the world of online chess, the legendary Magnus Carlsen is easily the richest gamer. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Norwegian chess player’s overall wealth is estimated at $8 million. Apart from his countless tournament winnings, Carlsen’s prowess in the game has led to sponsorships that earn him around $2 million per year. As the number one ranked chess player in the world, the record-holder for the highest peak rating in history, and the game’s youngest grandmaster ever at 13, Carlsen’s career has had a historic impact on global chess. And his place as a top earner is definitely well deserved.
Zeljko Ranogajec: $3 Billion
Making his fortune in blackjack and now owning a global gaming operation with an estimated annual turnover of $3 billion, it’s hard to peg Zeljko Ranogajec’s exact net worth. However, he has been known to reside at the luxurious One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, London – a place where any of the 86 apartments can cost anywhere from $90-$170 million. Before he became the billionaire that he is today, Ranogajec had a notorious past. He’s one of the first players to be banned for card counting at blackjack tables in Las Vegas. Alongside certain associates, Ranogajec then refined a gaming algorithm and used it to predict the outcomes for Keno lotteries as well as horse and greyhound races. Today, his company Colossus Bets is one of the most successful bookmakers in Europe.
Andy Beal: $9 Billion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AOGDkeXaZk
In terms of sheer net worth, very few gamers in history can sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Andy Beal, the world’s richest poker player. At a net worth of $9 billion, it’s no surprise that Beal tops Poker.org’s list of the wealthiest poker players on the planet. Apart from being the chairman and owner of Beal Bank, Beal also won the largest poker hand in public record: $11.7 million. The historic match – along with the man’s illustrious gaming history – has since been documented in books such as “The Professor” and “The Banker” by author Michael Craig.
These are just a handful of the gamers that have gotten rich by doing what they love. As the world of professional gaming becomes increasingly competitive, so do the opportunities for gamers to make it big. Whether you’re into eSports, blackjack, betting, poker, or online chess, it’s not that crazy to think that gaming could be your path to becoming a millionaire.
