Over four years have passed since the release of Valorant. In that time, numerous tournaments have been held, with Riot Games organizing four world championships—Valorant Champions—and other international competitions. The prize pools for these tournaments have increased yearly, allowing teams to significantly climb the ranks of the highest earners with a single tournament victory. In this article, we will look at the ten teams that have won the most prize money since the game's inception.
The Top Ten Highest Earning Teams in Valorant
According to Liquipedia.net, the total prize money awarded in Valorant exceeds $36 million. Interestingly, this amount is almost evenly split between online and offline tournaments. The most successful team has won only about 4% of the total sum. Below is a list of the ten teams with the highest earnings in Valorant:
| Position | Team | Tournament Wins | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fnatic | 7 | $1,315,026 |
| 2 | Evil Geniuses | 1 | $1,280,500 |
| 3 | EDward Gaming | 8 | $1,263,414 |
| 4 | Paper Rex | 14 | $1,219,351 |
| 5 | Sentinels | 14 | $1,003,000 |
| 6 | LOUD | 4 | $950,156 |
| 7 | Team Heretics | 7 | $779,894 |
| 8 | Gen.G Esports | 6 | $703,247 |
| 9 | DRX | 4 | $651,722 |
| 10 | Acend | 9 | $584,395 |
We will delve deeper into each team and their achievements. You might find it surprising that some teams, despite not winning any major trophies, have surpassed even world champions in terms of prize money. And that's not all.
READ MORE: EDward Gaming wins Valorant Champions 2024
Fnatic
Fnatic tops the list with the highest earnings in Valorant, totaling $1,315,026. Notably, they are the only team in the top three that has not won the Valorant Champions title. However, they have secured victories in other international tournaments, such as VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo and VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo.
Evil Geniuses
American team Evil Geniuses ranks second. Despite a challenging 2024 season, they were crowned the world's best in 2023 by winning Valorant Champions 2023. They earned $1 million from that tournament alone, bringing their total earnings to $1,280,500.
EDward Gaming
Until recently, EDward Gaming had won less than $300,000. However, after their stellar performance and victory at Valorant Champions 2024, the team earned an additional $1 million, boosting their total earnings to $1,263,414 and placing them third on the list.
Paper Rex
The Pacific region's Paper Rex earned $185,000 in 2024, despite not winning any international trophies. Their total earnings since the team's inception in Valorant amount to $1,219,351, placing them fourth in the rankings.
Sentinels
Sentinels had a successful 2024 season, adding another trophy to their collection and earning $380,000. This brought their total earnings to over $1 million, securing them the fifth spot with $1,003,000.
LOUD
The Brazilian team LOUD, another Valorant Champions winner, had a disappointing season compared to previous years, earning only $35,000 in 2024. Their total prize money amounts to $950,156, with their victory at Valorant Champions 2022 being their only international trophy.
Team Heretics
A phenomenon of 2024, Team Heretics was formed from young, talented players at the start of the season. Despite not having any Masters or even regional league trophies to their name, they managed to earn $779,894, largely thanks to securing second place at Valorant Champions 2024.
Gen.G Esports
Gen.G Esports was on the brink of winning five trophies in 2024 but secured only three, including VCT 2024: Masters Shanghai. After such success, they were considered top contenders for Valorant Champions 2024 but failed to progress beyond the group stage. Their total earnings stand at $703,247.
DRX
DRX is another team on this list without a major trophy, yet they have managed to earn a significant sum of $651,722. They won $150,000 in 2024 by finishing second in VCT 2024: Pacific Stage 2 and placing 5-6th at Valorant Champions 2024.
Acend
Acend is the fourth team to have won the coveted Valorant Champions trophy. Most of their prize money—$350,000—was earned at that tournament, bringing their total to $584,395. Since their 2021 world championship victory, the team has earned only $234,000 over three years, as they have been competing in tier 2 leagues after losing their VCT slot.
Conclusion
Since Valorant's release, the esports world has witnessed many thrilling competitions, with teams from around the globe earning substantial prize money. These achievements highlight the game's rapid growth and its popularity among players and fans alike. Trophies don't always determine a team's success, as many have achieved financial success through consistent performances across various tournaments.
F.A.Q.
Which is the richest team in Valorant?
As of the end of 2024, the richest team in Valorant is Fnatic, having earned a total of $1,315,026, even without winning a Valorant Champions tournament.
What is the largest prize pool in a Valorant tournament?
The largest prize pool in Valorant tournaments was recorded at Valorant Champions 2023 and Valorant Champions 2024, where each event had a prize pool of $2.25 million.
How often is Valorant Champions held?
Valorant Champions is the world championship tournament and serves as the final stage of each season. It is held once a year and is the most anticipated event in the Valorant competitive scene.
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