T1 leads global ranking with US$ 100 million in declared investments
The South Korean organization T1 holds first place in the new ranking of public investments in the esports sector, compiled by Minoru Toriyama, a professor of sports management at Osaka Seikei University and founder of the Esports Research Group. With approximately US$ 100 million in declared funding, the organization of the legendary Faker surpasses Team Vitality and 100 Thieves – and reaches this level in the same year it is expected to exceed US$ 60 million in annual revenue, a rarity in the sector.
The ranking and the numbers that matter
Based on CB Insights data, the survey maps the total volume of publicly disclosed investments by each organization. T1 leads by a symbolic but real margin: US$ 100 million against US$ 98.4 million for France’s Team Vitality and US$ 97.5 million for America’s 100 Thieves – which early in its journey attracted funding from names like Drake and Scooter Braun.
Cloud9 appears fourth with US$ 82.8 million. From there, the drop is noticeable.
More than symbolic
Reaching the top of an investment ranking would be enough. But T1 goes further: in 2025, the organization is projected to surpass US$ 60 million in revenue. In esports, where most companies are still searching for a business model that truly works, that is exceptional. Few organizations have managed to turn visibility into consistent revenue.
Much of this runs through League of Legends. Faker – Lee Sang-hyeok – is the most recognized athlete in esports history, and his impact goes far beyond the matches. He generates engagement, sponsorships and a global audience on a scale no other player in the sector can replicate with the same consistency.
An industry growing on multiple geographic fronts
The top of the ranking reveals something beyond the numbers: the geographic diversification of capital in esports. South Korea, France and the United States occupy the top three positions. It is no coincidence. It means investment in the sector no longer orbits a single market – it flows from European funds, Asian technology and media corporations, and traditional North American sports investors.
This evaluation criterion – investment raised, not titles or audience – offers a different reading of the industry. A high volume of funding does not guarantee competitive performance or immediate financial sustainability. But it signals where the market sees long-term potential. And, at the moment, that potential has a first and last name: T1.
