The highest earning mobile gamers in America

A new report has revealed America’s e-sports rich list, with 20-year-old Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf leading the pack, at $3.5mn a year from playing Fortnite

E-sports is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, with global revenues expected to grow to $1.8bn by 2025. 

The US represents one of the largest markets in this industry, with almost 30mn e-sports consumers coming from America alone. 

Bonus Ninja, an online casino review page, has listed the top 9 most popular gaming franchises in the US, alongside the highest-earning American e-sports gamers in each. 

  • 20-year-old Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf is the highest-earning gamer, earning $3.5mn from playing Fortnite (the fourth most popular e-sports franchise in America).
  • The most popular e-sports gaming franchise in the US is League of Legends, with a share of 36% of e-sports fans.
  • Call of Duty is the second most popular gaming franchise in America, and the highest-earning COD gamer has won $1.4mn in prize money.

9 Mortal Kombat

Tied with Halo, Mortal Kombat is followed by 14% of American e-sports fans. Dominique “SonicFox” Mclean is America's highest-earning Mortal Kombat gamer, with $253,344 in earnings. 

Halo player, 25-year-old Bradley “Frosty” Bergstrom is the highest-earning American gamer in the franchise, with $763,215 in earnings.

Audience share: 14%

Highest earning gamer: Dominique Mclean

8 Overwatch

Grant “Moth” Espe is the highest-earning American Overwatch player, with $353,965 in total winnings. 

Audience share: 15%

Highest earning gamer: Grant Espe

7 Fortnite Battle Royal

Tied with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), 16% of polled respondents said that they follow both e-sports franchises. 

The highest-earning American Fortnite gamer and the highest-earning gamer on this list is 20-year-old Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf, who has made almost $3,492,986.72 playing Fortnite. He is also ranked 22nd globally.

Audience share: 16%

Highest earning gamer: Kyle Giersdorf​​​​​​​

6 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

Jakey "Stewie2k" Yip is the highest reading CS:GO gamer with $1.1mn in prize earnings.

Audience share: 16%

Highest earning gamer: Jakey Yip

5 FIFA

The highest-earning American FIFA gamer is Christopher “Chris” Holly, who has earned $167,686 in prize money playing FIFA. However, Holly ranks as the lowest-earning gamer on this list.

Audience share: 17%

Highest earning gamer: Christopher Holly

4 Super Smash Bros

29-year-old Juan "Hungrybox" Debeidma has won $395,738 in prize money playing Super Smash Bros, making him the highest-earning American Super Smash bros gamer.

Audience share: 17%

Highest earning gamer:Juan Manuel Debiedma

3 Apex Legends

The shooting game is tied for third place with Super Smash Bros and FIFA, with 17% of polled US e-sports fans engaging with all three. Philip "ImperialHal" Dosen is the highest-earning Apex Legends player in the US, with $318,821 in prize winnings.

Audience share: 17%

Highest earning gamer: Philip Dosen

2 Call of Duty

The second most popular franchise is followed by 23% of avid e-sports fans, and 23-year-old Ian “C6” Porter (who is the highest-earning American Call of Duty player) is the second highest-earning gamer on this list, with $1.4mn in game earnings.

Audience share: 23%

Highest earning gamer: Ian Porter​​​​​​​

1 League of Legends

By far the most popular e-sports franchise in the US, 36% of polled e-sports fans said they follow League of Legends. 

Peter “Doublelift” Peng tops this franchise's rich list in the US, having earned $306,475.81 in prize money.

Audience share: 36%

Highest earning gamer: Peter Pen

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