The Six Invitational is one of the biggest yearly events in Rainbow Six Siege esports. As the official world championship for Siege, the Six Invitational offers a massive prize pool that players compete over. In 2023, the total prize pool reached over $3 million, making it the largest payout in Siege esports history. But how is this prize money distributed among the teams and players?
Prize Pool Distribution
The overall prize pool for the 2023 Six Invitational was $3,000,000 USD. This was divided amongst the top 8 finishing teams as follows:
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000,000 |
| 2nd | $500,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $300,000 |
| 5th-8th | $140,000 |
As you can see, the Six Invitational distributes its prize pool in a top-heavy manner, with over 50% of the money going to just the top two finishing teams. The champion alone took home a third of the total prize pool.
This prize money is then divided up among the 5-6 players on each roster, as well as their coaching staff and organization. The exact internal split varies from team to team, but players typically take home 50-70% of their team’s purse, with coaches and support staff receiving smaller portions.
Highest Overall Payouts
While the prize distribution favors teams at the very top, players on teams that consistently finish high can accumulate significant earnings over time from the Six Invitational.
Here are the top 5 highest overall earners from the Six Invitational for their career:
| Player | Total Earnings |
|---|---|
| Pengu | $722,500 |
| Fabian | $515,000 |
| Kantoraketti | $465,000 |
| Canadian | $382,500 |
| Nesk | $367,500 |
Pengu leads the way with over $700,000 in winnings just from the Six Invitational over his illustrious career. Long-time teammates Fabian and Kantoraketti round out the top 3, showcasing the dynasty that G2 Esports had built around these star players.
Highest Single Year Payout
While career earnings accumulate over many years, players on championship teams can also earn massive payouts from a single Six Invitational victory.
Here are the highest single-year payouts from winning the event:
| Player | Year | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| njr | 2023 | $300,000 |
| Alem4o | 2023 | $300,000 |
| Paluh | 2023 | $300,000 |
| Cyber | 2023 | $300,000 |
| Miracle | 2023 | $300,000 |
The current world champions, team Faze Clan, each took home a massive $300,000 USD from their 2023 Six Invitational victory. This dwarfed previous year’s payouts, showing how much the prize pool has grown.
Major Milestones
In addition to the overall prize money, there are also several major milestones for earnings that the top pros have hit over the years:
- First player to earn $100,000: Pengu (Year 2, 2018)
- First player to earn $200,000: Fabian (Year 3, 2019)
- First player to earn $300,000: Kantoraketti (Year 4, 2020)
- First player to earn $400,000: Nesk (Year 5, 2021)
- First player to earn $500,000: Pengu (Year 6, 2022)
- First player to earn $600,000+: Pengu (Year 7, 2023)
Pengu holds many of these milestones, further cementing his status as the highest paid Rainbow Six professional of all time. As prize pools continue to increase, expect even higher payouts in the future.
Salary and Sponsorships
In addition to Six Invitational winnings, Rainbow Six pros also earn yearly salaries and sponsorships from their organizations. Top players are signed to contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars per month, plus performance bonuses.
Big name players also sign personal endorsement deals with gaming brands like Razer, Logitech, and DXRacer. Revenue from merchandise sales and streaming on Twitch can also be very lucrative at the top level.
When you combine all these other sources of income, the very top Rainbow Six players today are making over $1 million per year from Siege between salary, sponsorships, and tournament winnings.
Grinding Through Challenger League
However, it’s important to note that only the elite few players at the top make this kind of money. Most professionals grind for years just for a chance to qualify for the Six Invitational through the Challenger Leagues.
Challenger League players often earn minimal salary and have fewer sponsorship opportunities. But even grinding in the minors for a chance at the world championship can pay off.
For example, the current world champions Team Secret earned just $14,000 from their 7th-8th place Challenger League finish in 2022. Yet their victory at the Six Invitational 2023 netted each player $300,000!
Is it Worth It as a Career?
Given the high risk and high reward potential, is pursuing a Rainbow Six esports career worth it?
For the very best players who make it to the top level, the financial rewards can be life-changing. But the road there is filled with low paying months or years trying to qualify and prove yourself.
Like any professional sport, success requires tremendous skill, determination, and sacrifice. Going pro in any game is not a sure path to riches and fame. But the highest peaks of achievement are reachable for those talented and motivated enough.
The Road Ahead
Rainbow Six Siege esports continues to grow at a rapid pace. Viewership records are being shattered, sponsorships are increasing, and organizations like FaZe Clan are investing heavily in R6 rosters.
As the game expands further into the mainstream in upcoming years, expect prize pools and player earnings to keep rising. The 2023 Six Invitational may mark just the beginning of Rainbow Six entering the top tier of esports competitions.
For now, the crown jewel remains taking home the hammer and title of world champion. The money is an added bonus for the competitive glory.
Conclusion
Winning the Six Invitational offers a massive payout for Rainbow Six Siege players. The 2023 prize pool distributed $3 million to the top teams, with each member of the world champion squad Faze Clan taking home $300,000.
Over a career, consistent high finishes can lead to earnings in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. But it requires grinding through low paying years in the Challenger League to qualify and achieving elite skill to win.
While the financial upside is high, becoming a Siege pro requires tremendous dedication, practice, and sacrifice. For those who do reach the pinnacle, Six Invitational winnings provide a well-deserved reward and ever-growing prize pools promise more lucrative paydays ahead.
