Former professional player Fredrik "roeJ" Jørgensen, who retired in early March, shared details about his earnings from tournament stickers and the specifics of his contract with Copenhagen Flames. During the Bootcamp podcast, he stated that he earned between 4 to 6 million Danish kroner (approximately $579,978 to $870,060) just from selling stickers.

Revealing such details sheds light on unexpected income sources for professional players and the specifics of esports contracts. It shows how earnings can vary depending on tournament success and the terms of agreements between players and organizations.

How It All Began

As part of Copenhagen Flames, roeJ participated in two majors, including the PGL Major Stockholm 2021, which became the largest tournament in CS:GO history, and the PGL Major Antwerp 2022. At that time, the organization and players did not anticipate achieving such success, and the contracts did not include a clause for sticker revenue percentages.

However, after the team made it to the major, Copenhagen Flames set a 14.5% share of sticker revenue for the players — significantly higher than the later standard of 5-6%.

Earnings and Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Fredrik earned $326,663 in prize money. The most significant income came from sticker sales. For instance, after the Antwerp major, each team member received about 1.8 million Danish kroner ($261,018). This success was possible thanks to both high percentages and the fortuitous timing of majors with record viewership.

I think I earn 25,000 kroner a month ($3,625), and then you just get one big payout for one tournament, just for qualifying. We made it to the major. Then you almost get 2 million ($290,007). It has certainly made a big difference to hit the majors that paid well but also had a good percentage

roeJ

roeJ's example demonstrates how success in esports can dramatically change players' financial situations. It also highlights the importance of a smart approach to drafting contracts that account for unexpected income sources, such as tournament stickers. Fredrik's story serves as a reminder that even small teams can reach great heights with the right approach.