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How Do The MongolZ and Other Professional CS2 Players Earn Money?
Not everyone realizes it yet, but esports isn’t just about playing on stage or getting famous online — it’s serious money. And we’re talking big money, coming from more than just prize pools or player salaries. One of the most interesting — and profitable — sources of income in CS2 is stickers, and that’s exactly what I’ll focus on in this investigation.
In this article for MLB Pick’em, I’ll break down how professional CS2 players actually make their money, and why just qualifying for a Major can bring in way more than even winning the tournament itself. We’ll take a closer look at The MongolZ CS2 — a team that’s no longer just a surprising underdog from Asia, but a real contender among the Counter-Strike elite. Don’t expect exact numbers — only Valve and the players know those — but the estimates might seriously surprise you.
Main Sources of Income for CS2 Pro Players
As I mentioned earlier, The MongolZ and other professional CS2 players have quite a few different ways to earn money. Every esports player has their own story — some have unique approach or unconventional monetization strategies that the general public will never hear about. But if we’re talking about what the majority of Counter-Strike 2 pros actually earn from — especially those competing at Majors and other top-tier events — here’s a breakdown:
- Team salary: A fixed monthly payment each player receives from their esports organization. At the highest level, these salaries can reach tens of thousands of dollars per month.
- Tournament prize money: Winning matches or making it to the playoffs in Counter-Strike 2 tournaments can bring in significant prize pools — especially when it comes to a Valve Major.
- Media activity: This includes Twitch streams, YouTube content, brand sponsorships, podcast appearances, and other marketing deals. The more popular the player, the more valuable their personal brand becomes — and with that, their sponsorship income grows.
- Donations and subscriptions: Platforms like Boosty, Patreon, or even Twitch subs allow fans to directly support their favorite players through monthly contributions.
- Sticker and capsule revenue: One of the lesser-known, but incredibly profitable income streams. I’ll go into more detail on how CS2 sticker sales work later in this article — so stick around!
These income sources are common among nearly all top-tier CS2 esports players who make it to international tournaments and earn a spot in Major sticker capsules.
What Are Tournament Stickers?
While club salaries, tournament prize money, and even media activity are pretty straightforward, the fifth income source — stickers — is still unfamiliar to many. And yet, CS2 stickers can be one of the most profitable sources of income for players, especially when it comes to Valve Majors.
So, what are tournament stickers? They’re in-game decals that can be applied to weapons. Valve releases these stickers during major events, such as the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Stickers come in different variations — from regular to gold and holographic — and are often accompanied by souvenir charms highlighting key moments from tournament matches.
For example, during the BLAST Austin 2025 Major, the following The MongolZ stickers were released:
- Sticker | The MongolZ | Austin 2025
- Sticker | The MongolZ (Gold) | Austin 2025
- Sticker | The MongolZ (Glitter) | Austin 2025
- Sticker | The MongolZ (Holo) | Austin 2025
There was also a special souvenir charm released: Charm | Highlight Moment at “Austin 2025” | flameZ Triple Kill vs The MongolZ — a rare item that can be attached to any weapon. It features a short video from the final match between Vitality and The MongolZ, showcasing flameZ’s triple kill.
In addition to team stickers, each player also gets four personal sticker versions. For example, here are the bLitz stickers from the same event:
- Sticker | bLitz | Austin 2025
- Sticker | bLitz (Gold) Austin 2025
- Sticker | bLitz (Glitter) Austin 2025
- Sticker | bLitz (Holo) Austin 2025
And when it comes to souvenir charms for individual players, the number is even higher. bLitz, for example, has eight different souvenir charms from the event!
How Do Stickers Make Money for Players?
Now that we understand what tournament stickers in CS2 are, the next big question is — how exactly do they turn into real income for professional players?
How Much Can a Player Earn From Stickers?
According to Andrey “Jerry” Mekhryakov, captain of PARIVISION, an individual player can earn between $300,000 and $400,000 from a single Major, depending on the tournament organizer and the specifics of their contract.
Ricardo “dead” Sinigaglia, manager of 00Nation, claims that a team can earn up to $3 million, with the average ranging between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
As for The MongolZ, unfortunately, there is no public information available. However, considering they reached the Grand Final of the Major in 2025, it’s safe to say they earned quite well. I’m pretty sure every Mongolian fan who follows the team bought at least a few The MongolZ stickers. I personally picked up over 50 of them, and I’m almost certain their price will rise over time.
What Does Sticker Income Depend On?
Earnings from CS2 stickers are not fixed — they can vary greatly from one tournament to another. Several key factors affect how much a player or team makes:
- Capsule sales — Valve shares 50% of the revenue from each sticker capsule with participating teams and players.
- Type of capsule — Contenders, Challengers, or Legends. Each tier sees different demand and sales volume.
- Contract terms between player and organization:
- Autograph stickers usually bring 100% of the revenue directly to the player;
- Team logo stickers are typically split 50/50, but some clubs take up to 70%.
- Capsule popularity — Capsules featuring The MongolZ, NAVI, Vitality, and other top-tier teams tend to sell better than those from lesser-known organizations.
Why Stickers Are More Valuable Than Prize Money
Here’s another fact that 99% of viewers don’t know: in most cases, CS2 stickers bring players more money than tournament prize winnings. And that’s the reality of modern esports.
Prize money is split among the entire team, with a portion going toward taxes, organizational expenses, and the organization’s cut. In the end, the amount that each player receives can be quite modest — especially if the team didn’t make it to the finals.
Stickers, on the other hand, are a source of personal income for the player. Especially when it comes to autograph stickers, which typically go 100% to the player directly. And quite often, that income exceeds the prize money, even for winning a Major.
📌 A simple example: today, many players aim to qualify for a Major not just for the trophy, but for the chance to be included in the sticker capsule. Because a sticker with your in-game name means money, prestige, and a permanent mark in CS2 history.
So, How Much Do The MongolZ Earn?
So, we’ve reached the end — but I still haven’t answered the main question: how much do The MongolZ earn?
Considering that in 2025 they became the official national team of Mongolia, finished in second place at the BLAST Austin Major, and brought home $170,000 in prize money, along with a significant spike in popularity and strong sticker sales, it’s safe to assume that each player from The MongolZ earned between $150,000 and $250,000 from that Major alone.
And all of this happened just a year after American analyst Mauisnake published a chart with estimated team salaries (I’ll include the table below), which showed that The MongolZ had the lowest monthly salary of all CS2 teams — just $5,000 per player. Yes, that refers only to base salary from the organization, but it’s safe to say their earnings have increased dramatically since then.
Amazing how much can change in just one year, right? Well, let’s hope that in future tournaments, The MongolZ will impress us not only with new victories but with even bigger earnings as well!
Table of Estimated Salaries in Top CS Teams
Published by Mauisnake — July 10, 2024
| Team | Ranking | Est. Salary (monthly) | Prize Money | Major? (Stickers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitality | 1→2 | $220,000 | $274,500 | Yes |
| Falcons | 10→15 | $195,000 | $175,500 | No |
| FaZe | 2→4 | $190,000 | $534,500 | Yes |
| G2 | 7→6 | $180,000 | $294,500 | Yes |
| Liquid | 23→14 | $175,000 | $163,500 | No |
| Astralis | 19→7 | $165,000 | $178,000 | No |
| Heroic | 23→10 | $160,000 | $137,500 | Yes |
| Navi | 4→5 | $155,000 | $660,000 | Yes |
| Furia | 11→19 | $105,000 | $84,500 | Yes |
| Spirit | 13→1 | $100,000 | $790,000 | Yes |
| VP | 5→7 | $100,000 | $134,000 | Yes |
| Mouz | 3→3 | $95,000 | $642,050 | Yes |
| Complexity | 8→9 | $95,000 | $153,000 | Yes |
| ENCE | 37→24 | $92,000 | $102,500 | Yes |
| BIG | 16→16 | $75,000 | $91,000 | No |
| Eternal Fire | 14→13 | $50,000 | $326,000 | Yes |
| The Mongolz | 20→11 | $30,000 | $330,848 | Yes |
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