Counter-Strike is one of the most famous franchises in the world. This means tons of CS2 tournaments happen with huge prize pools keeping the hype alive for this game. Competitive gaming has become a profitable career for the best CS2 professionals because they earn from prize money, sponsorships, and player salaries. Top players continuously dominate during international tournaments by showing exceptional skill together with leadership and game strategizing to earn significant sums of money. Here is the list of the top 10 earners in CS2 competitive history and their milestones and strategies for becoming legends in the game.
Top 10 Highest Earning Professionals of CS: GO/CS2
Players who have conquered multiple Major tournaments and showcased exceptional performance over many years occupy the top positions of highest-paid selections. The following list presents the ten highest-earning CS2 players demonstrated through their accumulated prize winnings in majors, local tournaments, and other competitions.
10th: Rain
FaZe Clan has maintained Håvard “Rain” Nygaard for multiple seasons as their most dependable and longstanding player in history. The team reached victory at PGL Antwerp Major 2022 through his essential contribution and he showed his position as a top-tier entry fragger in CS2. The essential factor contributing to FaZe Clan’s continuing achievements has been how well Rain opens rounds by winning important duels. Rain has amassed over $1.3 million while playing professionally at gaming tournaments to establish himself as one of the most well-paid CS2 players presently.
9th: Twistzz
During CS2 history Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken established himself as one of the leading North American players. His mechanical skill together with precision and adaptability have enabled Twistzz to succeed at FaZe Clan and Team Liquid. Liquid helped develop him into an excellent rifle player before he joined FaZe where his dominance reached unprecedented heights. The Intel Grand Slam victory of FaZe served as his career-highlighting achievement because it confirmed his status and added substantially to his financial gains. Each tournament Twistzz competes in benefits from his superior performance stability. Multiple international championship trophies have led him to reach total prize winnings exceeding $1.4 million.
8th: electroNic
Denis Sharpov’s “electroNic” reputation as an elite CS2 rifler has established him as a vital member of Natus Vincere’s Major-conquering squad. Through his performance at the PGL Stockholm Major win with Na’Vi in 2021 he achieved multiple tournament victories that added more than $1.5 million to his professional earnings. The combination of sharp tactical insight and remarkable shooting skills makes electroNic one of the riskiest competitors in the CS2 competition. Any CS fan knows how destructive the duo of electroNic and S1mple was, who is also further on this list.
7th: karrigan
Throughout Counter-Strike’s history, the community considers Finn “Karrigan” Andersen to be one of the most respected in-game leaders (IGL). Throughout his career, he has managed many teams, such as FaZe Clan and Mousesports, and led them to win many tournaments. Through his leadership roles, Karrigan led the FaZe Clan to victory at the PGL Antwerp Major, further enhancing his distinguished achievements. Karrigan stands among the top successful CS2 captains because his leadership and high adaptability have generated career earnings beyond $1.6 million.
6th: s1mple
Fellow Counter-Strike players and most of the community consider Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev as the all-time best Counter-Strike player. The combination of his spectacular AWP abilities, unmatched mental awareness, and extraordinary clutch moment has established him as a legendary figure to Counter-Strike fans. He brought Na’Vi to their historic PGL Stockholm 2021 Major victory thus securing his position in Counter-Strike historical records. The multiple HLTV Player of the Year awards earned s1mple $1.7 million in prize money to become a leading player by the standards of CS2. S1mple has become synonymous with CS2 and while his earnings may not be the highest, his popularity reigns supreme.
5th: gla1ve
During Astralis’ most successful period, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander emerged as the strategic leader of the team. As the leader in the game, he secured four Major victories for Astralis which made them elevate to legendary status as one of CS’s most successful teams ever. During the prime of Astralis, his strategic innovations coupled with intense in-game reading prowess led the team to next to impossible victories. The professional achievements of gla1ve amount to $1.8 million in prize money which showcases his excellence as both a leader and strategic thinker.
4th: Magisk
Emil “Magisk” Reif was a crucial part of Astralis’ Major-winning dynasty, contributing to three consecutive Major victories. After his time with Astralis, he transitioned to Team Vitality, where he continued competing at the highest level. Magisk demonstrates universally strong skills in bomb site anchoring, round-saving abilities, and role-switching versatility making him an adaptable player. Magisk gained fame through his composed approach as he played as a skilled versatile rifler who proved himself in every match scenario. His performance excellence in elite-level competitions led him to earn a total of $1.9 million which established him as one of the most financially successful riflers in the game.
3rd: dev1ce
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz stands as one of the most distinguished professional Counter-Strike AWPers throughout the history of the competitive scene. During Astralis team domination dev1ce led them to win four Majors and receive multiple MVP awards as an essential team member. Dev1ce has earned recognition for his accurate AWP play and intelligent approach to the game becoming one of the most dreaded competitors. The professional earnings of dev1ce have exceeded $2 million allowing him entry into the exclusive club of top CS players ever.
2nd: Xyp9x
Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth, better known as the Clutch Minister, has made a career out of winning rounds that seemed impossible. His ability to remain calm under pressure has led to some of the most memorable moments in CS history. As a critical member of Astralis’ four Major-winning lineup, his contributions were often game-changing. Xyp9x’s reliability in clutch situations made him an irreplaceable piece of Astralis’ puzzle. Over the years, his winnings have surpassed $2.2 million, securing his spot as one of the highest-paid CS2 players in history.
1st: dupreeh
Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen stands at the top of CS2’s highest earners. With an unmatched five Major titles, he holds a record that may never be broken. His journey from Astralis to Team Vitality allowed him to remain at the peak of competition, proving his ability to adapt and perform at the highest level. His well-rounded playstyle, combined with his years of experience, has made him one of the most respected players in the game. Over his career, he has amassed more than $2.3 million in prize money, making him the highest-earning CS2 player of all time.