How To Make Money With Fortnite

How to Make Money Playing Fortnite

Love it or hate it, Fortnite has become one of the world's most popular games with 200 million people playing the title since its launch.[1] But what if we told you that playing the game could be more than just a hobby? What if we told you that you could get paid to play Fortnite ?

In Fortnite Battle Royale, 100 players battle against each other on an island until only one man remains standing. With Fortnite being free to play, playable on PC, console, and mobile, and having a huge fanbase, it makes it an ideal game to play for profit.

Common options for getting paid to play Fortnite include streaming, competing in tournaments, and betting on the game as an eSport.

Here are the different ways you can start making money from Fortnite !

Streaming Fortnite

One of the easiest ways for getting paid to play Fortnite is to live stream your gameplay.

Streaming is a long road to success. It is easy to start making money and you can quickly make a few dollars here and there. However, becoming a famous streamer and building up a fanbase large enough to give you an income you can live off takes time.

However, do it right and you could become a fulltime gamer. Take Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, for example. He broadcasts live Fortnite streams on Twitch and earns over $500,000 every month just from streaming.[2]

To be a successful streamer at Fornite you need to give something to your audience. Generally, your streams need to offer either:

Skill – If you are skilled at playing Fortnite, people will want to watch you play to pick up new techniques.

Entertainment – If you have a vibrant or funny personality, people will watch you play for entertainment.

There are several streaming platforms to choose from, such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook. Money typically comes from paid advertisements, subscriptions, fan donations, and brand sponsorships.

To find out more about how you can make money from streaming video games, follow this link.

Competing in eSports Tournaments

You can also make money from eSports. eSports is another word for competitive gaming whereby top players compete, either as a team or individually, in contests to win big prize pools.

With Fortnite, the major eSports competition is the Fortnite World Cup which takes place in July. However, due to the global pandemic, the 2020 World Cup has been canceled.[3] Nevertheless, other competitions are going ahead online, such as the Fortnite Championship Servies Invitational with a $2 million prize pool.

If you are extremely talented at playing Fortnite, becoming a pro gamer and entering Fortnite eSports tournaments could be for you. It requires dedication, practice, and lots of motivation, but if you are determined you could make it to the top.

16-year-old winner Fortnite comp 2019 cherring

Does anyone remember teen Kyle 'Bugha' Giersdorf who won the first-ever Fortnite World Cup in 2019? He took home $3 million in prize funds at the age of 16.[4]

It is not only from winning that eSports players make an income – the majority of their earnings come from sponsorships, either from gaming brands or eSports teams. Teams buy and sell eSports players to compete in Fortnite competitions, similar to how football teams buy and sell football players.

To become a pro Fortnite player, you need to establish yourself as a gamer, start partaking in online contests with smaller prize pools, and eventually get noticed by an eSports organization.

To discover how to become a professional paid eSports player, read our guide on how to enter competitive gaming tournaments.

Betting on Fortnite

If you don't think you have what it takes to become an eSports player, why not bet on Fortnite competitions?

Betting on Fortnite events is ideal for any player who knows the game well, but is not that skillful at playing. If you are into watching Fortnite streams, this can also up your enjoyment as you have the potential to win real money!

Any form of betting carries a risk – some bets will pay off whereas others won't – so this is not the most stable way to earn money. However, the more you know about the players, teams, and the game itself the better you are likely to do.

Many online bookies now offer eSports betting, and with Fortnite being such a popular game you can expect to find odds for Fortnite tournaments on most sites.

For our best eSports betting sites, a guide on the types of bets available, and things to consider before wagering, visit our eSports betting page.

Investing

With Fortnite having made upwards of $1 billion revenue despite being a free-to-play game, another option is to invest in Fortnite.

Unfortunately, Fortnite is owned by the private company Epic Games, meaning you cannot buy Fortnite stocks. However, you can invest in gaming companies that have shares of Epic Gaming.

The number one option for investment is Tencent. They own a 40% share of Epic Games making it the closest you can get to investing in Fortnite. The company also has stakes in several other top developers including Activision Blizzard and Electronic Arts.

It is essential you do your research before investing as markets are continually changing. For all our tips and advice on investing in eSports and video games, click here.

Coaching

Coaching Fortnite is another popular method and you can charge up to $200 per hour.

Many schools now have eSports teams and kids are earning places at college for being good at video games. Ashland University even offers a Fortnite scholarship of $4,000, meaning now more than ever parents are paying for their kids to be coached by professionals.[5]

However, to get any clients you must be well-known and an established Fortnite player. Whether that is from being a streamer or a pro gamer, coaching is best for people who are already respected as a skilled player.

What Else?

If you want to get paid to play video games, but are not sure your skills lie with Fortnite, take a look at our A-Z of gaming guides. These articles offer advice on how to make a living playing other popular titles.

Other battle royal games you might be interested in are:

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)
Apex Legends

Visit our homepage for even more ways to make money from video games such as developing games, becoming a tester, or creating your own merchandise!

FAQs

What is the most money someone has won in a Fortnite tournament?

The most money won from a Fortnite tournament is $3 million. This was won by Kyle 'Bugha' Giersdorf in the 2019 Fortnite World Cup.

Who is the richest Fortnite player?

The richest Fortnite player is Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins who is one of the richest gamers worldwide. He is a live streamer who is best known for streaming Fortnite on Twitch.

What was the prize pool for the Fortnite World Cup?

The prize pool for the 2019 Fortnite World Cup was $30 million. Every player who made it to the finals received at least $50,000, with first-place players taking home $3 million in the solo tournament and $1.5 million each in duos.

Who is the highest-paid Fortnite player?

The highest-paid Fortnite player is Kyle 'Bugha' Giersdorf from his $3 million in the 2019 Fortnite World Cup.