Esports As A Show: How much Money do Streamers and Pro Players Make

Twitch is a popular platform where people can subscribe to watch creators live-stream their gaming experiences and other content. Several people around the world have been able to use this network to monetize their video game sessions. While there is potential to make a lot of money on this platform, how do the earnings compare to the pro players?

As we explored the financial potential behind both roles, we noticed some big advantages of becoming a Twitch streamer. Throughout this page, we’re going to explore how content creators can make money through gaming and how it compares to the income of the pros. Let’s find out more below.

How Streamers Earn Money

If you become a Twitch affiliate, you will have the opportunity to make money through gaming. As popular streamer s1mple put it, “Dedication is what sets ordinary players from champions.”

There are various ways that creators are able to make money through this platform when they play video games. Here is a quick look at some of the most common ways that streamers earn money.

1. Subscriptions

The most common way to start collecting a revenue stream from Twitch is through paid subscriptions. A subscriber will pay a monthly rate to get access to exclusive content, including live streams. There are other perks to monthly subscriptions, like emotes, ad-free viewing, subscriber badges, and more.

2. Tips and Donations

Sometimes, fans and subscribers just want to thank their favourite streamers for the entertainment. They can do this by sending a tip or donation to the creators through platforms like Streamlabs and Ko-Fi.  Streamers may also utilize these platforms to set up fundraisers when they have a target amount of money they want to earn.

3. Ad Revenue

Twitch offers incentives to streamers through ad placements. If a streamer is part of the affiliate program, they can get paid a set amount of money for allowing a set number of ads to be displayed per hour of streaming. Creators must stream for at least 40 hours a month during the ad revenue program.

4. Sponsorships and Brand Deals

The top Twitch streamers may get the opportunity to participate in a brand deal. This is when they will get paid to show off or talk about products and services during their Twitch streams. As they support a popular streamer, they’re also connecting with the fans.

The fans love to see what games their favourite streamers are playing, eventually seeking out the thrills for themselves. As the experts at CasinoCanada point out, these brands, like StoneVegas, deal put online casino brands in front of the right audience.

5. Merchandise

The most popular creators are able to turn themselves into a brand. This can open the opportunity for merchandise deals. All they have to do is connect with a print on demand service. Every time a product is ordered, the company will print and ship the product.

Twitch streamers can wear their merchandise during live streams and promote it on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok to put it in front of their target audience. Since the most popular streamers usually have over a  million followers on these platforms, it’s easier to gain attention.

6. Affiliate Links  

Twitch streamers can start boosting their income through affiliate links. This is when they promote a service on behalf of a brand to drive more traffic to their website. For example, many streamers have affiliate partnerships with online casinos.

They will login to the site and play games during live streams to show players what it’s like. Reviewing gambling platforms overview are an excellent way to show viewers what the real online casino experience is like.

How Professional Players Make Money

Professional players have a varied income. While some players opt to join the Twitch affiliate program, this isn’t their main focus for their gaming experience. Most pro players have joined a league, providing them with different sources of income.

• Salary
• Sponsorships
• Prize money

Once a pro player joins a league, they will be offered a salary. Newcomers could earn roughly $100,000 annually, while popular players receive much more. On top of their salaries, they also have the opportunity to win prize money during tournaments.

How Much Streamers Earn

When it comes to the question of “how much do Twitch streamers make?” there is no exact number. You see, subscription income varies depending on how many new and concurrent viewers a streamer has.  Small accounts may only be making a couple of hundred dollars a month, while popular creators could be making tens of thousands on a monthly basis through their Twitch channel.

But when you compare the two, streamers are known to make more money than pro players. Some of the most popular streamers of 2025 are earning more in a month than the average pro player makes in a year.

Highest Paid Streamers in 2025 

Ever wonder how much the most popular Twitch partners are making? There is some serious potential here. Even popular streamer Doublelift was quoted saying “You never know what’s possible until you try.”

Let’s take a quick look at the top earners’ average revenue per month in 2025. Keep in mind, these numbers are based on Twitch subscriptions and don’t include sponsorships, merchandise, or other sources of online income.

1. Jynxi | $171,108 to $274,110
2. Shlorox | $63,377 to $196,201
3. caseoh_ | $59,087 to $116,768
4. KaiCenat | $45,027 tp $94,773
5. Tumblurr | $70,752 to 90,001

How Much Do Professional Players Earn

There are a few factors that affect the salary of professional esports players. The main factors are the league and the game. For example, it’s estimated that League of Legends players earn between €115,000 and €240,000 in Europe.

While in America, players could earn $35,000 to $40,000 per month through VALORANT. Some games, like Counter-Strike, pay a lump sum for each team, which is split amongst the players.

This Year’s Highest-Paid Players

Even though popular streamers are known to be earning more money on Twitch than pros are making through leagues, the top players are making an impressive income through their gaming skills. Here’s a quick look at the annual salaries of this year’s highest-paid competitors.

1. Kakeru | Street Fighter 6 | $1,033,213
2. 33 | DOTA 2 | $791,222.53
3. Yinuo | Arena of Valor | $775,508.90
4. dyrachYO | DOTA 2 | $618,299.80
5. Boxi | DOTA 2 | $617,889.20

Conclusion

Gamers can make money on Twitch through subscriptions, sponsorships, affiliates, and other methods. This open possibility gives top streamers the opportunity to boost their revenue without limits. That’s why popular accounts are bringing in over $100k monthly. While professional players are known to make an impressive salary, it typically isn’t as high as the top-viewed streamers.