The Overwatch League (OWL) is one of the most exclusive esports clubs in the world, and its players, some of the best-salaried video gamers. Established by Blizzard Entertainment as a new model of professional gaming, the league is one of the most competitive in the esports world. Getting admitted into the OWL is a huge challenge as it requires a lot of raw talent and a proper esports structure, such as a team, to actually back you up. However, a single slot in the league can cost anything between $40 million and $60 million.
Who then are the highest-paid Overwatch players, how much have they earned in total, and what are their current teams? We set out to find out with a list of the highest-earning players in the professional esports scene and how they got there. Here are the Overwatch players you may want to keep an eye out for.
- Nam-joo Kwon (Striker)
- Matthew DeLisi (super)
- Hyo-bin Choi (ChoiHyoBin)
- Meyong-hwan Yoo (Smurf)
- Park (Viol2t)
- Byung-sun Kim (Fleta)
- Grant Espe (moth)
- Dong-jun Kim (Rascal)
- Jun Woo Kang (Void)
- Joo-seok Lee (Twilight)
- Min-chul Kim (IZaYaKI)
- Jae-gon Lee ( LeeJaeGon)
- Joon Yeong Park (Profit)
- Jae-hee Hong (Gesture)
- Seung-jun Lee (WhoRU)
1. Nam-joo Kwon (Striker)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $660,525
- Role: DPS
- Status: Active
- Current team: San Fransisco Shock
Striker's standing in the Overwatch League is well-deserved. One of the most versatile DPS players in Overwatch, Nam-joo Kwon is one of the game's highest-performing and best-paid athletes. He is playing for the San Francisco Shock and has been responsible for many of the team's recent triumphs, putting in a lot of effort to ensure SFS's recent string of success.
He has earned over $660,000 so far, competing in the Overwatch League, and has been known for his signature plays with heroes such as Tracer, Reaper, McCree, Widowmaker, and Hanzo. Striker's significance in the Overwatch League became apparent with his first forays into the league when he still played for the Boston Uprising, going 10-0 with his team in the OWL Season 1 Stage 3, one of the best performances in OWL esports to this date.
2. Matthew DeLisi (super)
- Nationality: United States
- Total earnings: $590,252
- Role: Tank
- Status: Active
- Current team: San Francisco Shock
The San Francisco Shock is one of the most capable teams in the Overwatch League, and it's no surprise that its players have claimed some of the bulkiest prize pools over the years. Players such as Matthew “super” DeLisi have been instrumental in their team's success. Since September 2019, the SFC has won numerous first-place finishes, only placing 4th in the Overwatch League 2021 – Playoffs.
Super himself is an exemplary player. Apart from having amassed the biggest total earnings as of the moment of writing, he is similarly one of the most talented tank players of his time. He has been playing with Orisa, Roadhog, Winston, and Reinhardt to deliver a number of spot-on performances over the years. It's no surprise that the SFC values him highly and has kept him on their roster, which is one othe reasons why the team continues to soar.
3. Hyo-bin Choi (ChoiHyoBin)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $586,164
- Role: Tank
- Status: Retired
- Current team: Retired
It shouldn't surprise anyone that Hyo-bin Choi, known as “ChoiHyoBin” in the Overwatch League, is a member of the San Francisco Shock. SFS has already trained two other top-earning league players, and this is not a coincidence. However, unlike the other two competitors, Choi has moved past competitive Overwatch, which is certainly regrettable as he helped shape a lot of the professional play.
Players such as Choi have helped turn the OWL into more than a series of esports tournaments – he and like-minded individuals have inspired fans to show up and support teams playing in person. He was famous for his consistently good plays with Zarya, Sigma, Roadhog, and D. Va.
He ran with the San Francisco Shock from the very start and secured five first finishes in the league, ending his career in 2021 with a 4th place finish for the Shock in the Overwatch League 2021 – Playoffs.
4. Meyong-hwan Yoo (Smurf)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $586,063
- Role: Tank
- Status: Active
- Current team: Seoul Dynasty
Meyong-hwan Yoo is better known by the in-game name, “smurf.” The player has been able to amass impressive total earnings over the span of a fairly short career in the Overwatch League, adding $586,063 to his name in two seasons of the league. He plays for Seoul Dynasty, which is the official South Korean team that represents the country in the franchised league.
Smurf has a string of success to his name, including placing first in the Overwatch League – 2019 Stage 2 Playoffs with San Francisco Shock, his former team. The player is known for his signature style to play with numerous heroes, including Roadhog, Wrecking Ball, Orisa, Winston, and Reinhardt.
5. Min Ki Park (Viol2t)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $585,697
- Role: Flex Support
- Status: Active
- Current team: San Francisco Shock
Understandably, when San Fransico Shock has been winning so much prize money, their players are currently at the very top of the Overwatch pecking order. Min Ki Park, known as Viol2t in the OWL, is no exception. He is one of the best-salaried players out there right now, and he plays flexi support. He has proven a talented addition to the team's lineup, and he is a master of several high-value heroes named Zenyatta, Baptiste, Moira, and Ana.
He actually has 4700 SR on all roles, which just underlines how valuable he is to his team and the league as a whole. Only 21 years old as of the time of writing, Viol2t is a valuable addition to the competitive scene and will most likely continue to dominate professional tournaments with the OWL first and foremost.
6. Byung-sun Kim (Fleta)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $584,293
- Role: Flex DPS
- Status: Active
- Current team: Shanghai Dragons
Byung-sun “Fleta” Kim has been with the Shanghai Dragons for two years now, and he has become one of the best players in the Overwatch League. His total earnings and salary have fetched him a total of $584,293, and he managed to pull his team to the Overwatch League 2021 – Playoffs, where they secured 4:0 against the Atlanta Reign, vying for a total of $1.5 million in prize money. He has become a known face in the OWL for his signature style plays with Genji, Pharah, Tracer, Widowmaker, and Echo.
7. Grant Espe (moth)
- Nationality: United States
- Total earnings: $580,836
- Role: Support
- Status: Active
- Current team: Los Angeles Gladiators
A well-versed player in the Overwatch League, Grant Espe or “moth,” has been one of the best support league players. His Lucio play has become synonymous with perfection, and the American has been able to forge his skills in San Francisco Shock and, most recently, the Los Angeles Gladiators. He has similarly earned $580,836 in total earnings so far and has created numerous opportunities for other players to follow in his footsteps.
Today, moth is one of the players to refer to if you want to study and learn a number of heroes, including Mercy, Ana, Baptiste, or Brigitte. The Gladiators did well in the Overwatch League 2021 – Countdown Cup, finishing first, but ended up 5-6th in the Overwatch League 2021 – Playoffs.
8. Dong-jun Kim (Rascal)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $567,124
- Role: DPS/Support
- Status: Retired (Coach)
- Current team: Philadelphia Fusion
Dong-jun Kim, or Rascal as he is known to fellow players and fans, is one of the best players ever to grace the Overwatch League. It's not just that he has been able to bite big chunks of prize pool money. Rather, Rascal is one of the most diverse players in competitive Overwatch and one of the most highly-esteemed competitors.
He played for Cloud9 and then London Spitfire before joining San Francisco Shock until he retired as an active player in 2021. He has since been a coach at Philadelphia Fusion, bringing his wealth of experience to the fore. His adaptability has been an inspiration to other players to master numerous positions and playstyles at the same time, changing the pace of professional Overwatch play at the highest level.
9. Jun Woo Kang (Void)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $511,008
- Role: Tank
- Status: Active
- Current team: Shanghai Dragons
By this time, you are not at all surprised to see another South Korean dominating the Overwatch League. Well, Jun-woo Kang's status in the league is completely deserved, and his tank plays have been the reason why the Dragons have had a strong performance in the OWL.
Void, as he is known to fans, brings a lot to the table. A little older for Overwatch standards, he has been pulling off one successful play after another with Sigma, D. Va, Zarya, and Roadhog. While Overwatch is considering to rejuggle the tanking role a bit in the sequel game, there is no way that talent such as Void will be unnoticed.
The Dragons pulled ahead in many first finishers in 2021, defeating the Atlanta Reign, Chengdu Hunters, and the Dallas Fuel. He continues to play a pivotal role in the team's defensive and offensive strategies.
10. Joo-seok Lee (Twilight)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $487,837
- Role: Flex Support
- Status: Active
- Current team: Toronto Defiant
Another (former) San Fransico Shock player is deservedly featured in the list. After the 2021 OWL finals, the Shock has pulled ahead in terms of money earned, and that is understandable. Yet, Joo-seok Lee or Twilight has earned it all by himself. He has been one of the most dependable Flex Support players in the OWL, and his professional career has spanned several big franchises in Overwatch.
This includes teams such as RunAway, the Vancouver Titans, and most recently, SF. He has excellent playing a number of heroes, including Brigitte, Moira, Baptiste, Zenyatta, and Ana. Twilight has since joined the Toronto Defiant.
11. Min-chul Kim (IZaYaKI)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $472,807
- Role: Support
- Status: Active
- Current team: Shanghai Dragons
The Shanghai Dragons have some of the best support players, and Min-chul “IZaYaKI” Kim is one of them. The young South Korean ace joined the team in 2020 and has been contributing to its successes ever since. He is not the highest-paid player, granted, but IZaYaKI continues to deliver on a great performance with Zenyatta, Ana, Baptiste, Moira, and others.
12. Jae-gon Lee ( LeeJaeGon)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $446,130
- Role: Support
- Status: Active
- Current team: Shanghai Dragons
Jae-gon “LeeJaeGon” Lee is another top-earner in the Overwatch League. As far as talented players go, LeeJaeGon brings a lot to the table. He has specialized in Lúcio, Merci, and Brigitte and plays as support for the Shanghai Dragons. His winnings are estimated at $446,130, and he has been with the Dragons since 2020, a year that included a lot of roster changes for the team. Eventually, they found their winning formula, of which LeeJaeGon has been a key component.
13. Joon Yeong Park (Profit)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $424,856
- Role: DPS
- Status: Active
- Current team: Seoul Dynasty
Joon Yeong Park or Profit has been one of the prominent faces of the Overwatch League. A talented competitor capable of delivering big plays, Profit is deservedly – and somewhat aptly based on his name – one of the best-salaried players in the OWL. He has won $424,856 as of the time of writing, and he has competed alongside Gesture since the pair first played together in GC Busan. Both players' salaries have grown over the years, and that is a deserved achievement.
Profit has been able to carve a name for himself through heroes such as Tracer, Genji, Hanzo, Pharah, and Ashe. Games featuring this Seol Dynasty player are dynamic, involve a lot of to and fro, and generally lead to some of the best events out there.
14. Jae-hee Hong (Gesture)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $408,143
- Role: Tank
- Status: Retired
- Current team: Retired
Jae-hee Hong, known to fans as Gesture, is another top-earning Overwatch League player. He has played for several high-profile teams in the league, including the London Spitfire and Seoul Dynasty. He has excelled in his role as a tank and has helped Seoul stay ahead in the competitive game, and he is currently retired.
Gesture showed an offensive tanking playstyle that quickly moved the needle with characters such as Sigma, Roadhog, Reinhardt, Orisa, and Winston and was able to deliver on outstanding plays throughout his entire career. His decision to retire after the Overwatch League 2020 – Playoffs – Grand Finals came after Seoul lost to San Fransisco in a highly contested 2:4 showdown.
15. Seung-jun Lee (WhoRU)
- Nationality: South Korea
- Total earnings: $394,024
- Role: DPS
- Status: Active
- Current team: Shanghai Dragons
One of the Shanghai Dragons trusted gunners, Seung-jun “WhoRU” Lee, is a leading player in the Overwatch League. He has earned and is one of the newest additions to the Overwatch scene as a whole. His membership in the Dragons has given him access to the top-tiers of competitive play, and he has been performing well in his role as the team's tank. He has mastered numerous tanking characters, including Genji, Tracer, Pharah, Doomfirst, and Torbjörn.
