Dota 2 Has Paid out $377 Million in Prizes, More Than Fortnite and CS:GO Combined

Over the years, the competitive esports industry has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in prizes, rewarding top-notch players and teams across the globe. And while there are several huge money-making titles in the game, not one comes close to Dota 2, the highest-paying esports title of all time. With around 8 million monthly unique players, Dota 2 is far below giants like League of Legends (130 million active) or Counter-Strike (20 million monthly). But when it comes to prize money, Dota 2 rocks the scene.

According to data presented by Skinsluck.com, so far, Dota 2 has paid out a head-spinning $377 million in prizes, more than Fortnite and Counter Strike: Global Offensive combined.

Over Half of Dota 2's Prize Money Came from The International

Dota 2's competitive scene is built on prestige, not player numbers. The game hosts one of the most prestigious annual esports tournaments, The International (TI), with the largest prize pools in esports history, cementing Dota 2's position as the highest-paying esports title of all time.

TI's prize pool is mainly funded through sales of in-game "Battle Pass" content to players, and while the amount has varied significantly over the years, dropping from its record $40 million in 2021, the total prize money Dota 2 has paid out to players remains quite impressive.

According to Esports Earnings data, Dota 2's cumulative prize pool has reached an impressive $377.4 million as of last week, and roughly 55% of that value, or $207 million, came from The International alone. Here is another striking fact: the tournament handed out nearly $100 million in just three years (TI 2021, 2019, and 2018).

Although the TI prize pool fell to $18.9 million in 2022, before slumping to $3.38 million in 2023 and $2.7 million in 2024, Dota 2 still dominates the rankings of highest-paying esports. For comparison, second-placed Fortnite has paid out around $202 million in prizes, or 85% less than Dota 2. Other top titles lag even more behind. Counter Strike: Global Offensive ranked third with $162 million, only half of Dota 2's cumulative prize pool, while League of Legends and Arena of Valor follow with $122 million and $109 million, respectively.

Esports' Biggest Titles Near the $1 Billion Prize Money Mark

While esports tournament hype has cooled from its peak between 2018 and 2021, especially in Western markets, the highest-paying video games of all time are closing in on a huge milestone. According to Esports Earnings data, the top five titles - Dota 2, Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Arena of Valor- have collectively awarded $973 million so far. That figure could jump over $1 billion by the end of the year or in early 2026 at the latest.

To put that in perspective, these five games have paid out more prize money than the next 80 titles combined, including titles like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Rocket League, Hearthstone, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone.