Many people worldwide aspire to become professional esports players, travelling the globe and earning substantial income by playing video games. In this article, Bo3.gg will showcase the example of the greatest player in the history of CS:GO and delve into how much s1mple earns at the pinnacle of the esports iceberg.
Who is s1mple?
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev is a Ukrainian professional player in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2. He was born on October 2, 1997. s1mple is widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of CS:GO. He is known for his exceptional shooting skills, understanding of the game mechanics, and impressive individual contributions to his team's success.
S1mple's career began in youth teams, and over time, he joined various professional organizations such as HellRaisers, FlipSid3, Team Liquid, and Natus Vincere. Throughout his career, Kostyliev has received numerous individual awards for his outstanding performance.
In the team, s1mple can excel in both sniper and rifle positions. His playing style, movement, and strategic thinking have made him one of the most popular and respected figures in the world of Counter-Strike. Currently, Kostyliev has taken a break from the professional scene to recharge and return more motivated to conquer CS2.
Salary in Natus Vincere
Professional CS2 player Owen "smooya" Butterfield touched upon the topic of esports player salaries during a personal Twitch stream. According to him, on average, successful CS2 players earn $15-20 thousand. However, s1mple is not just successful; he is the best player in the history of CS:GO. Butterfield also stated that around ten professional players receive over $40 thousand per month. Meanwhile, the salaries of s1mple and Nikola "NiKo" Kovač exceed $50 thousand.
Why such a range? In addition to gaming skills, the best esports players have a strong media presence. For example, s1mple has 3.7 million followers on Twitch, 1.6 million subscribers on Instagram, and 776 thousand followers on Twitter. Such media exposure benefits not only the esports player but also the club he represents.
Prize winnings
Tournament prizes are another source of income for s1mple. Throughout Kostyljev's career, he has earned over $1.75 million in prize money, including $70 thousand in 2023. The most successful year for s1mple was 2021 when he, as part of NAVI, won the Intel Grand Slam. Therefore, on average, he earns $130 thousand in prize money each year.
Earnings from stickers
Like salaries, the exact income of professional players from sticker sales during majors remains a secret. However, some esports athletes share approximate amounts they earned from this. During a Twitch stream, Kenny "kennyS" Schrub mentioned that in case of reaching the playoffs and winning a major, an esports athlete could earn anywhere from half a million to a million dollars from stickers. In the worst-case scenario, players receive around $150,000 from stickers. This substantial support from the community provides players with various opportunities to enhance the appearance of their skins.
In turn, s1mple reached the playoffs of eleven majors, and it can be assumed that he earned quite substantial amounts from stickers. For instance, in 2022, Kostyljev with NAVI reached the quarterfinals of IEM Rio Major 2022 and the finals of PGL Major Antwerp 2022, which could have brought him at least half a million dollars. On average, s1mple could be considered to have earned around $200,000 from stickers at each major.
Twitch streaming
For some players, streaming is an acceptable way of earning, but s1mple does not fall into this category. Over time, he has conducted quite a few streams, and the income from subscriptions ranged from $80-157, according to streamscharts. In comparison to other sources of income, this amount is extremely insignificant, so it seems that Kostyljev streams primarily for his own enjoyment rather than for earnings.
Advertising contracts
A player of s1mple's calibre, coupled with a million-strong social media audience, naturally attracts interest from various brands. In 2019, Kostyljev became an ambassador for AMD. Additionally, the Ukrainian esports athlete collaborated with the mobile game Raid: Shadow Legends, resulting in s1mple having his own in-game character. Each such deal can bring Kostyljev hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.
Total: how much does s1mple earn?
And now it's time to tally up s1mple's annual earnings.
- Monthly Salary: $50,000
- Annual Salary: $600,000
- Tournament Winnings: an average of $130,000 per year
- Sticker Revenue: an average of $400,000 per year
- Streaming: too little to account for
- Advertising Contracts: Contract amounts are unknown even approximately. These earnings may be part of the club salary, but it's more likely around $100,000 per year.
In total, on average, s1mple earns over a million dollars per year. Approximately half of his annual income comes from salaries, while the rest includes tournament winnings, sticker revenue, and earnings from advertising contracts. Becoming a professional CS2 player is not easy, and reaching s1mple's level is even more challenging. However, you have something to aspire to!
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