Hrachya Harutyunyan

Lists

May 29, 2026

Top 10 Highest-Earning Players in Counter-Strike History

CS2 is one of the biggest esports in the world, and the best players have been competing for prize money for over two decades. Major tournaments like IEM, BLAST, and PGL regularly offer prize pools in the millions, and for players who stay competitive over a long career, those winnings add up fast. When you look at the all-time totals, the numbers are pretty impressive.

Based on the latest data, here are the ten highest-earning CS2 players as of 2026.

Note that these figures only cover tournament prize money, not salaries, sponsorships, or streaming income, so the real-life earnings of these players are likely much higher.

1. ApEX (Dan Madesclaire) – $2,627,140

A black and white portrait of Dan Madesclaire ("apEX"), the highest-earning CS2 player. He is wearing a Team Vitality jersey with Stake and Skin.Club sponsors. The graphic displays his total earnings of over $2.6 million.

Team: Team Vitality
Country: France
Age: 33

ApEX sits at the very top of the all-time CS2 earnings list with over $2.6 million in prize money.

The French veteran has been a cornerstone of Team Vitality for years, helping build one of Europe's most dominant rosters. With 700+ matches and 150+ tournaments under his belt, ApEX's longevity in the scene is a big reason he's accumulated more winnings than anyone else.

2. Ropz (Robin Kool) – $2,541,702

A black and white portrait of Robin Kool ("ropz"), the technically gifted Estonian rifler. He is wearing a Team Vitality jersey with his arms crossed, ranked #2 on the all-time earnings list.

Team: Team Vitality
Country: Estonia
Age: 26

The Estonian rifler is not just one of the richest players in CS2 – he's widely considered one of the most technically gifted.

After his years at mousesports, Ropz made the jump to FaZe Clan before landing at Team Vitality, steadily climbing the earnings ladder. But wherever he plays, the trophies flow naturally.

3. Dupreeh (Peter Rothmann Rasmussen) – $2,225,525

A black and white portrait of Peter Rasmussen ("dupreeh"), the only five-time Major winner. He is holding an MVP medal. The text indicates his status as "Retired" following his 2025 retirement.

Team: Free Agent
Country: Denmark
Age: 33

A true legend of Danish Counter-Strike, Dupreeh is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. He was a key member of the legendary Astralis era that dominated CS:GO from 2018 to 2020, and collected Major after Major.

He went into history as the only player who won five Majors (4 with Astralis and 1 with Vitality). In May of 2025, he officially retired, but his $2.2 million career earnings reflect a decade-plus at the absolute top of the scene.

4. dev1ce (Nicolai Hvilshøj Reedtz) – $2,151,239

A black and white portrait of Nicolai Reedtz ("dev1ce"), the legendary AWP player now competing for 100 Thieves. He is shown making a "shush" gesture. The background features a blue strip with 100 Thieves branding.

Team: 100 Thieves
Country: Denmark
Age: 30

One of the most decorated AWPers in CS history, dev1ce won four Majors with Astralis and set the gold standard for consistent, methodical play.

While he was at the top, health-related issues somewhat hindered his career, which could've been the greatest of all time.

At the moment, he's competing for 100 Thieves, grinding his way up to the top. His career earnings of over $2.1 million reflect a career that most players can only dream of.

5. ZywOo (Mathieu Herbaut) – $2,139,359

A black and white portrait of Mathieu Herbaut ("ZywOo"), the world's top-rated player. He is wearing a Team Vitality jersey with glasses, positioned as the youngest player in the top five earners.

Team: Team Vitality
Country: France
Age: 25

ZywOo is the youngest player in this top five and arguably the best active player in the world right now. The French superstar has been rated the world's #1 player multiple years running, has 32 tournament MVPs, and continues to rack up earnings with Vitality. At just 25, he has a very real shot at eventually topping this list.

6. Karrigan (Finn Andersen) $2,137,877

Team: Team Falcons
Country: Denmark
Age: 36

The most experienced IGL (in-game leader) on this list, Karrigan, has played in some of Counter-Strike's greatest teams – from Astralis to FaZe Clan, and now Team Falcons.

At 36, he's the elder statesman of the pro scene, and his 800+ career matches make him a testament to longevity. Just under ZywOo in earnings, but ahead by a lifetime of tactical wisdom.

7. Magisk (Emil Hoffmann Reif) – $2,056,823

A black and white portrait of Emil Reif ("Magisk"), an Astralis era legend shown celebrating with clenched fists. The text lists him as a "Free Agent" with over $2 million in earnings.

Team: Free Agent
Country: Denmark
Age: 28

Another Astralis era legend, Magisk, was the flexible, two-way anchor that helped complete that legendary lineup. Currently a free agent, his $2 million-plus in career earnings is a reminder of how dominant that era was for Danish CS. He's still relatively young, so a return to a top team remains very possible.

8. Xyp9x (Andreas Højsleth) – $2,003,061

A black and white portrait of Andreas Højsleth ("Xyp9x"), known as the "Clutch Minister." He is holding an MVP medal and is identified as the assistant coach for MOUZ.

Team: MOUZ
Country: Denmark
Age: 30

Xyp9x is another member of the iconic Astralis core to appear on this list, and his inclusion cements just how extraordinary that team was.

Known as "The Clutch Minister" for his almost supernatural ability to win 1vX situations, Xyp9x is now in MOUZ as an assistant coach and crossed the $2 million career milestone.

9. Gla1ve (Lukas Egholm Rossander) – $1,965,451

A black and white portrait of Lukas Rossander ("gla1ve"), the tactical genius and four-time Major winner. He is holding an MVP medal and is identified as the coach for 100 Thieves.

Team: 100 Thieves
Country: Denmark
Age: 30

The final member and the IGL of the Astralis era, gla1ve, is often credited as the tactical genius behind their run of four Major titles. His in-game calling set new standards for how Counter-Strike could be played at the highest level.

Now, as the coach of 100 Thieves, alongside dev1ce, he's closing in on the $2 million mark and continuing to compete at the top level.

10. rain (Håvard Liset Nygaard) – $1,886,916

A black and white portrait of Håvard Nygaard ("rain"), the consistent Norwegian veteran. He is now identified as the IGL for 100 Thieves, as shown in the team text and background branding.

Team: 100 Thieves
Country: Norway
Age: 31

The only Norwegian on the list, rain has been one of the most consistent impact players in CS for nearly a decade. A long-time cornerstone of FaZe Clan, rain was part of the Grand Slam-winning and Major-winning rosters.

In his new role as the IGL of 100 Thieves, rain is taking the legendary organization to the top, alongside dev1ce and gla1ve.

Key Takeaways

The top 10 richest CS2 players paint a fascinating picture of the pro scene:

Team Vitality dominates – ApEX, Ropz, ZywOo, and others have turned Vitality into a money-earning machine on the tournament circuit.
Astralis reigns supreme – Five of the top ten (Dupreeh, dev1ce, Magisk, Xyp9x, gla1ve) are Danish legends, largely thanks to the Astralis era.
The $2 million club is exclusive – Only eight players in CS2 history have crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings.
100 Thieves is stacked – dev1ce, gla1ve, and rain all competing under the same banner is one of the most intriguing storylines heading deeper into 2026.

Whether you're following the competitive scene for the action, the storylines, or the skins, one thing is clear: the very best CS2 players are competing for serious money – and the race to the top of the all-time list is far from over.