LoL Worlds Prize Pool History: Every Year From 2011 to 2025
Verified prize pool data for every League of Legends World Championship. Biggest pool in history: 2018 at $6.45M. Most recent: 2025 at $5M, won by T1. Data sourced from Liquipedia tournament records and cross-checked against Riot Games announcements.
The League of Legends World Championship has been running since 2011. Fifteen tournaments, one of which awarded the largest prize pool in the game's history at $6.45 million in 2018. The pool has since compressed as Riot restructured esports economics, but with the 2025 return to a $5M purse, Worlds is back to being one of the most valuable single-tournament events in esports.
Methodology: Every figure below is sourced from Liquipedia's tournament prize pool ledger, which tracks officially-announced base prize pools as declared by Riot Games. These numbers do not include crowdfunded additions (historically added via Championship skins and event passes in 2016 and 2018), which could significantly inflate the effective totals. Last verified: May 8, 2026.
Every LoL World Championship Prize Pool
| Year | Prize Pool | Winner | Runner-up | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,000,000 | T1 | KT Rolster | Chengdu / Shanghai / Beijing |
| 2024 | $2,225,000 | T1 | Bilibili Gaming | London / Paris / Berlin |
| 2023 | $2,225,000 | T1 | Weibo Gaming | Seoul / Busan |
| 2022 | $2,225,000 | DRX | T1 | San Francisco / Atlanta / New York / Mexico City |
| 2021 | $2,225,000 | EDward Gaming | DWG KIA | Reykjavík |
| 2020 | $2,225,000 | DAMWON Gaming | Suning | Shanghai |
| 2019 | $2,225,000 | FunPlus Phoenix | G2 Esports | Berlin / Madrid / Paris |
| 2018 | $6,450,000 | Invictus Gaming | Fnatic | Seoul / Busan / Gwangju / Incheon |
| 2017 | $4,946,970 | Samsung Galaxy | SK Telecom T1 | Wuhan / Guangzhou / Shanghai / Beijing |
| 2016 | $5,070,000 | SK Telecom T1 | Samsung Galaxy | San Francisco / Chicago / New York / Los Angeles |
| 2015 | $2,130,000 | SK Telecom T1 | KOO Tigers | Paris / London / Brussels / Berlin |
| 2014 | $2,130,000 | Samsung White | Star Horn Royal Club | Seoul / Busan / Taipei / Singapore |
| 2013 | $2,050,000 | SK Telecom T1 | Royal Club | Los Angeles |
| 2012 | $2,000,000 | Taipei Assassins | Azubu Frost | Los Angeles |
| 2011 | $100,000 | Fnatic | against All authority | Jönköping |
The Peak: 2018 Worlds at $6.45 Million
The biggest Worlds ever ran in South Korea from October 1 through November 3, 2018. The base prize pool of $2.25M was inflated to $6.45M through crowdfunding — 25% of sales from Kai'Sa's Championship skin and the Worlds 2018 event pass went directly into the pool. Invictus Gaming won, bringing the LPL its first Worlds title and ending a five-year Korean grip on the Summoner's Cup.
This funding mechanism was removed after 2018, which is why the base prize pool dropped to $2.225M from 2019 through 2024. The compression wasn't Riot cutting investment in esports — it was a shift from crowdfunded pools to sponsor-funded tournaments and team revenue sharing.
The Return to $5M: Worlds 2025
After six consecutive years at $2.225M, Riot restored the prize pool to $5M for the 2025 World Championship. The event ran from October 14 to November 9, 2025 across Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing, with T1 defeating KT Rolster in an all-LCK final. T1 extended its lead as the most decorated org in Worlds history with six titles.
What the winner actually takes home: Prize pool distribution follows a standard esports curve. The 2018 winner (Invictus Gaming) earned around $2.4M of the $6.45M pool. T1's 2025 payout from the $5M pool was approximately $2M. Teams finishing top 4 typically split the remaining pool down to a 16th-place floor of $25,000 to $75,000 depending on the year.
Other Major LoL Tournament Prize Pools (2025-2026)
Worlds isn't the only major tournament. Riot's international circuit and the Esports World Cup have added significant prize money to the calendar since 2024.
| Tournament | Year | Prize Pool | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esports World Cup | 2026 | $2,000,000 | TBD (July 15-19) |
| First Stand Tournament | 2026 | $1,000,000 | Bilibili Gaming |
| Esports World Cup | 2025 | $2,010,000 | Gen.G Esports |
| Mid-Season Invitational | 2025 | $2,000,000 | Gen.G Esports |
| First Stand Tournament | 2025 | $1,000,000 | Hanwha Life Esports |
| Esports World Cup | 2024 | $1,050,000 | T1 |
| Mid-Season Invitational | 2018 | $1,370,520 | Royal Never Give Up |
| Mid-Season Invitational | 2017 | $1,690,000 | SK Telecom T1 |
Who Has Won the Most Worlds Prize Money?
T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1) is the most decorated organization in League of Legends esports history. With six World Championships under the T1 banner (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025), they hold the records for most Worlds titles and most Worlds finals appearances. The org's combined Worlds winnings total over $5 million before factoring in team sponsorships and league salary.
Faker, T1's mid laner and the face of League of Legends esports, has personally contributed to five of those six titles. He's the only LCK player to win Worlds three times in a single career (and the only player to do so in any region, period). You can read more about his earnings and net worth in our Faker net worth breakdown.
How Prize Pool Compares to Other Esports
LoL Worlds' base $5M prize pool looks modest compared to Dota 2's The International, which hit $40M+ at its 2021 peak through crowdfunding. But The International has since fallen to around $3M as Valve pulled back its compendium-based crowdfunding. In 2025, Worlds and The International are roughly equivalent in base prize pool — but LoL Worlds draws massively more viewership, peaking at 6.9M concurrent viewers in the 2024 final versus 1.7M for The International's 2024 final.
Related LoL Data
- How many champions are in League of Legends — 172 and counting
- LoL player count 2026 — the definitive active player breakdown
- All League of Legends seasons — every season and patch cycle
- First Stand 2026 tournament guide — full coverage
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Prize pool and winner data verified from Liquipedia tournament prize pool records and cross-checked against Riot Games official announcements. Viewership figures sourced from Esports Charts. Last updated May 8, 2026. Prize pools represent base pools as declared by Riot Games and do not include crowdfunded additions where applicable (notably 2016 and 2018, where Championship skin sales inflated effective totals).
FAQ
What is the biggest LoL Worlds prize pool in history?
The 2018 World Championship had the largest prize pool at $6,450,000. This was inflated from a base $2.25M through crowdfunding via the Kai'Sa Championship skin and the Worlds 2018 event pass. The crowdfunding mechanic was discontinued after 2018, which is why subsequent Worlds prize pools were smaller until the 2025 restoration to $5M.
What was the 2025 LoL Worlds prize pool?
The 2025 World Championship had a $5,000,000 prize pool. T1 won the tournament, defeating KT Rolster in the final. The event ran October 14 through November 9, 2025 across Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Who has won the most LoL Worlds titles?
T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1) holds the record with six World Championships in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Faker has been part of all six title runs, making him the only player in any esports region to win Worlds six times.
How much does the winning team get from LoL Worlds?
Prize pool distribution varies by year. For a $5M pool like 2025, the winning team takes home approximately $2M. For the 2018 peak at $6.45M, Invictus Gaming earned roughly $2.4M. Teams finishing in the top 4 typically split the remaining pool down to a floor of $25,000 to $75,000 for 16th place.
When is the 2026 LoL Worlds?
The 2026 World Championship has not yet had its prize pool publicly announced as of May 2026. Based on Riot's recent restoration to $5M for 2025, it is expected to remain in that range. Dates and location will be confirmed by Riot Games closer to the event.
How does LoL Worlds compare to other esports tournaments?
LoL Worlds' $5M base prize pool is smaller than Dota 2's The International at its peak ($40M+ in 2021), but significantly higher than most other major esports events. In 2025, Worlds and The International were roughly equivalent in base prize pool, but LoL Worlds draws dramatically more viewership, peaking at 6.9M concurrent viewers in the 2024 final.
