In the world of competitive Counter-Strike, teams fight for trophies, fans cheer for legendary clutch plays, and pros chase both glory and life-changing prize pools. As CS:GO hands the reins to CS2, the landscape is shifting with new names climbing the earnings ladder. Yet, one truth remains consistent: the chase for Major titles and Grand Slams has yielded unprecedented riches for the game’s top athletes. From storied veterans to next-generation stars, the most successful players have turned their in-game excellence into millions in tournament prize money – a quantifiable testament to their dominance in one of esports’ most prestigious titles.

Danish Greatness Remains Untouched

The top tier of Counter-Strike’s earning leaderboard speaks volumes about the legacy of Danish Counter-Strike. Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen stands unmatched with total earnings of $2,237,617, making him the only player to surpass the $2.2 million milestone in prize winnings. His success stems from five Major titles and stints with top-tier organizations like Astralis and Team Vitality.

Following closely behind are dupreeh’s celebrated Danish colleagues, many of whom helped forge one of the most dominant eras in esports history under Astralis. Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz, Finn “karrigan” Andersen, Emil “Magisk” Reif, Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth, and Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander all populate the top 10, a reflection of Astralis’ unprecedented run of Major victories and consistent global placings.

Europe and Beyond: The Rise of International Contenders

While Danish players solidify their grasp of the elite, the top earners list also highlights the increasing global diversity of CS competition. One notable name breaking the Danish hold is French veteran Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, who lands at No. 4 with $2,058,787 – the first non-Danish player to crack the top 5. His success with Team Vitality and earlier teams has cemented his legacy as one of France’s all-time greats.

apEX is the first player inside the Top 5 without a Danish passport. Photo: BLAST.

Names like Robin “ropz” Kool from Estonia, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken of Canada, Ukraine’s Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi, and French superstar Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut are actively climbing the rankings, carried by stellar showings in CS2 events and landmark wins in S-Tier tournaments.

The Elite: Top 25 Earners in Counter-Strike History

Top 25 Counter-Strike Players by Tournament Prize Winnings

  1. 🇩🇰 Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen – $2,237,617
  2. 🇩🇰 Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz – $2,130,053
  3. 🇩🇰 Finn “karrigan” Andersen – $2,105,952
  4. 🇫🇷 Dan “apEX” Madesclaire – $2,058,787
  5. 🇩🇰 Emil “Magisk” Reif – $2,049,107
  6. 🇩🇰 Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth – $2,015,280
  7. 🇪🇪 Robin “ropz” Kool – $1,983,227
  8. 🇩🇰 Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander – $1,940,330
  9. 🇳🇴 Håvard “rain” Nygaard – $1,863,957
  10. 🇨🇦 Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken – $1,767,739
  11. 🇧🇦 Nikola “NiKo” Kovač – $1,740,383
  12. 🇺🇦 Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev – $1,739,947
  13. 🇷🇺 Denis “electroNic” Sharipov – $1,670,788
  14. 🇫🇷 Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut – $1,577,460
  15. 🇺🇦 Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi – $1,410,205
  16. 🇨🇦 Keith “NAF” Markovic – $1,306,099
  17. 🇺🇸 Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski – $1,285,382
  18. 🇧🇷 Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo – $1,252,813
  19. 🇱🇻 Helvijs “broky” Saukants – $1,244,152
  20. 🇷🇺 Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy – $1,203,641
  21. 🇺🇸 Jacky “Stewie2K” Yip – $1,196,892
  22. 🇷🇺 Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov – $1,180,456
  23. 🇷🇺 Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov – $1,151,900
  24. 🇧🇷 Epitacio “TACO” de Melo – $1,073,120
  25. 🇺🇸 Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella – $1,071,824

(Figures are sourced from Liquipedia – last updated June 25, 2025)

Behind the Numbers: What Drives These Earnings?

  • Astralis’ Revenue Model: The Danish organization’s approach to equitable profit sharing allowed prominent players to retain high portions of prize money, significantly boosting individual earnings.
  • Sticker Income Potential: While not factored into these totals, many players earn additional revenue through the sale of in-game signature stickers during Majors – a source of income that reinforces their brand and personal visibility.
  • The CS2 Factor: The transition to CS2 has brought new competitive life and tournament circuits, giving fresh talent the opportunity to rise fast in the rankings. Up-and-coming stars like donk, magixx, and b1t stand poised to shake up the leaderboard in the years ahead.
  • Global Reach: Counter-Strike’s earning elite reflects its international appeal, with top players hailing from Denmark, France, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Canada, Norway, the United States, Brazil, Latvia, and Bosnia.

Watch: The Earners in Action

As Counter-Strike continues to evolve with CS2 shaping the scene, the competition is fiercer than ever. Prize pools are growing, the fan base is expanding, and with rising talent learning from the greats, this leaderboard is bound to see compelling changes in the near future. Yet for now, the legends at the top stand as monuments to over a decade of esports excellence.

Source: Top 25 Highest-Earning Players in Counter-Strike History