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LoL Esports: 2025 Revenue Share & Worlds Prize Pool Changes

Last Updated: November 14, 2025

League of Legends Worlds Championship trophy with esports teams celebrating.

Riot Games has officially confirmed a fundamental shift in the economic structure of League of Legends esports, set to take full effect with the 2025 competitive season. The developer is transitioning to a more collaborative business model that directs a significant portion of revenue from in-game digital content to professional teams and the World Championship prize pool.

This strategic overhaul, one of the most significant in the game's history, aims to build a more sustainable and rewarding ecosystem by directly linking fan engagement with the financial success of players and organizations.

A New Foundation for LoL Esports Funding

For years, the Worlds prize pool was calculated using a base amount from Riot, supplemented by 25% of the revenue from specific items, most notably the annual Championship skin and the Worlds event pass. While this model successfully generated multi-million dollar prize purses, Riot is evolving it to provide greater financial stability for its partner teams in top-tier leagues like the LCS (North America), LEC (EMEA), and LCK (Korea).

Beginning in 2025, the new model introduces a "global revenue pool" funded by a much broader range of digital content sales. This pool's revenue will then be distributed among partner organizations and will also be used to bolster the prize money for international events like the World Championship. In addition to this revenue share, teams will receive a fixed annual stipend, creating a more predictable financial foundation. This two-pronged approach is a direct response to the economic challenges facing the modern esports industry, providing organizations with more reliable income streams.

The core of this change is to create a symbiotic relationship: as the game and its esports scene prosper through fan support, the teams that make the competition compelling will share more directly in that success.

How the Worlds 2025 Prize Pool Will Be Calculated

While the final prize pool for Worlds 2025 will only be known after the event concludes, its structure is now clear. The total prize money will be a combination of two primary sources:

  • Riot's Base Contribution: A foundational prize pool provided directly by Riot Games. For context, the base prize pool for the 2023 World Championship was $2,225,000. The 2025 base is expected to be in a similar range, serving as the starting point before fan contributions are added.
  • Fan-Fueled Digital Revenue: This is the revolutionary component. A significant percentage of revenue from a wide variety of in-game digital items sold throughout the year will be added to the base prize pool. This will include event passes, team-branded cosmetics, and other special Worlds-themed content, moving far beyond the scope of just one or two items from previous years.

This model empowers the global League of Legends fanbase to have a direct and substantial impact on the final prize pool. The more fans engage with and purchase digital content tied to the esports scene, the higher the ultimate prize purse will climb, creating a dynamic and potentially uncapped reward for the world's best players.

What This Means for Players and Organizations

This new financial model promises to have a profound impact on the entire competitive ecosystem.

For professional teams, the shift introduces a more reliable and potentially lucrative revenue stream. Instead of being heavily reliant on sponsorships and unpredictable prize winnings, organizations in partnership with Riot will receive a guaranteed stipend plus a share of the global digital revenue. This financial stability is intended to lead to:

  • Higher Player Salaries: With more predictable income, teams can offer more competitive salaries and benefits.
  • Improved Infrastructure: Organizations can invest more confidently in coaching staff, analytics, training facilities, and player wellness programs.
  • Long-Term Planning: Financial stability allows teams to build multi-year rosters and pursue long-term brand-building initiatives without the volatility of a purely performance-based income.

For players, the immediate benefit is the potential for a much larger prize pool at the most important tournament of the year. The winnings will more accurately reflect the massive global audience they command, providing a direct reward for their performance on the world's biggest stage.

The Future of LoL Esports Economics

Riot's strategic overhaul is a calculated move to build a healthier, self-sustaining future for a sport that has captivated millions for over a decade. By giving teams a direct stake in the financial success of the game's digital content, Riot is cementing a true partnership. This model encourages teams not only to compete at the highest level but also to co-market the game and its events, creating a unified effort to grow the entire LoL ecosystem. As the 2025 season gets underway, the entire community will be watching to see just how high this new fan-powered financial model can elevate the sport.

LoL Worlds 2025 Prize Pool FAQ

Has the full LoL Worlds 2025 prize pool amount been announced?
No, and it won't be announced until after the tournament. The final amount is dynamic and depends on a base contribution from Riot Games plus a percentage of revenue from select in-game digital content sales throughout the 2025 season.

How can fans contribute to the prize pool?
Fans can directly increase the prize pool by purchasing specific in-game items designated by Riot Games. Historically, these have included World Championship skins and event passes, but the new model will incorporate a wider array of content.

Why is Riot Games changing the prize pool model?
Riot is implementing this new model to create a more financially stable and sustainable ecosystem for its partner teams. By sharing a larger portion of digital revenue, they provide organizations with more predictable income, which allows for better long-term planning, player investment, and overall health of the sport.

How does this compare to previous years?
In the past, only a small selection of items (like the annual Championship skin) contributed a percentage of revenue to the prize pool. The 2025 model greatly expands this concept, feeding revenue from a much broader range of digital content into a global revenue pool that is shared with partner teams *and* contributes to the Worlds prize purse.