Who's Faker and his net worth in 2026

Turbosmurfs

Administrator

22 Jan 2026

In certain sports, some players transcend the boundaries of the game they play because of their unparalleled skill and impact on the sport.

Athletes such as Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Serena Williams are some of the examples of individuals whose achievements set them apart as icons in their fields.

However, our story is about a gamer who breached the boundaries of League of Legends to become a global icon in the world of Esports.

Who is Faker?

Personal background and early life

Birth and upbringing

Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok, nicknamed ‘Unkillable Demon King’, is a South Korean League of Legends professional player who is considered the greatest LoL player of all time.

He was born on the 7th of May 1996 in Seoul, South Korea, and raised by a single father and grandmother after his parents got divorced.

From an early age, Faker demonstrated a consistent interest in puzzles and games that provided him with intellectual stimulation and honed his problem-solving skills.

Most notably, Faker spent a lot of free time self-educating by exploring foreign languages and solving puzzles like the Rubik’s cube.

Gaming roots

In his early years, he grew very fond of video games as a method of escaping the pressures of daily life, which has developed into a passion.

This passion turned into an obsession and he dropped out of high school to focus on gaming full-time which was supported by his family.

Before playing League of Legends, Faker initially played a wide variety of different games under the in-game alias of GoJeonPa.

Once he got tired of playing the games that were available at the time, he discovered a new game named League of Legends in December 2011 and the rest is history.

Path to League of Legends pro play

Early days of Korean League of Legends

Unlike some regions like the EU that had the earliest access to League of Legends, the Korean region only officially received the game in December 2011.

Before the game was officially out, there were already plenty of teams who were scrimming each other in open beta with the goal of getting a head start in the Korean LoL scene.

Faker was one of the players who hopped on the LoL train early in Korea, and in a relatively short time span, he became one of the most skilled players on the Korean server.

Ranked path and road to rank 1

Faker initially did not aim to play League of Legends professionally or play ranked altogether. The main reason why he queued for a ranked match for the first time was that he got tired of waiting for the normal game queues.

The reason why his queue time for normal games was so long is that he was too good, which caused his normal game elo to skyrocket. This left Faker with no other option than to start playing ranked where he found immediate success.

In his early days, he was notorious for his LeBlanc and Syndra gameplay, with a focus on mid lane champions with a strong early-game presence.

This playstyle led Faker to the coveted position of the #1 ranked solo queue player on the Korean server, which sparked interest from several pro teams, including SK Telecom T1.

Journey to success

First professional contract

Before joining SKT T1’s roster, Faker initially formed an amateur LoL team with other fellow Challenger players Ssumday and Bengi.

This team didn’t last long though, since after noticing Faker’s undeniable talent and skill displayed in solo queue matches, SKT T1 offered Faker his first professional contract, where he remained until the present day.

In his earliest days as a pro player, Faker only made about a few thousand dollars a month as the scene wasn’t fully developed yet in the Korean region.

This period saw a massive shift in focus for Faker who fully devoted his life to League of Legends which he played 12-15 hours a day with the goal of becoming the best player in the world.

Esports successes and first Worlds win

April 6th, 2013 was the date when a legend was first introduced to League’s biggest stage as Faker played his first pro match against CJ Entus.

The game ended in a confident win in which Faker dominated the opposition with his Nidalee and Karthus picks which was a sign of the times to come.

SK Telecom T1 continued to dominate the regular Korean season which earned them a spot in the 2013 World Championship.

Led by outstanding performances by Piglet in the AD Carry role and Faker in the mid lane, SKT T1 won the S3 World Championship. They won the title in a dominating fashion, clean sweeping the rivals SHRC in the final match with a score of 3-0.

This victory paved the way for many more professional successes that Faker would enjoy over the years, including the record of 4 World Championship titles under his belt.

Faker Salary and Net Worth 2025

Faker salary

It's impossible to know the precise numbers that were agreed upon in Faker's contract, due to the non-disclosure agreement between the player and the Esports organization.

However, the rumored yearly salary that Faker enjoys at T1 sits around 6 million USD, making him one of the best-paid gamers in the entire world.

This salary doesn't include additional sources of revenue such as sponsorship deals, streaming revenue, or prize winnings, which make up for a large majority of his yearly income.

The main reason that Faker makes so much money, apart from being LoL's GOAT and most successful player, is the fact that he's a very marketable and likable personality in the South Korean region.

This makes him an attractive figure for brands and sponsors looking to capitalize on his popularity and reach, especially in South Korea where League of Legends is integrated into the mainstream culture.

In July 2025, Faker signed a four-year contract extension with T1 that will keep him with the organization until 2029. At that point, he will be 33 years old, well beyond the typical retirement age for esports players. This extension demonstrates both his commitment to T1 and the organization's belief in his continued ability to compete at the highest level.

Faker net worth

In 2025, Faker's approximate net worth sits between 10 - 50 million USD, with most conservative estimates placing it around 10-25 million, making Faker one of the best-paid athletes in esports.

Apart from consistently dominating professional play and cashing on salary checks and tournament prize pools, Faker has built a substantial personal brand that attracts significant sponsorships and endorsements.

Over the years, he has diversified his investment portfolio and owns several business ventures that provide consistent passive income.

Here are some of Faker's most notable sources of income that contributed to his substantial wealth:

Massive professional League of Legends contract with T1 (estimated at $6 million per year)
6% equity stake in T1 Entertainment and Sports company (valued at approximately $13.2 million based on T1's $220 million valuation)
Sole owner and landlord of a massive office building named Faker Tower in Seoul (purchased for over $8 million in 2020)
Sponsorships with billion-dollar brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Red Bull, Samsung, and Nike
Over $2 million in tournament prize winnings (first LoL player to surpass the $2 million mark)
Streaming revenue from platforms like SOOP (South Korean streaming platform), Twitch, and YouTube
Owns three luxury cars, a $76,000 BMW M550i xDrive Sedan, a $90,000 BMW 420i Coupe M Sport, and a $120,000 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53MATIC+, all of which were gifted by sponsors

Despite his massive wealth, Faker is known for living a remarkably frugal lifestyle, reportedly spending only about $200 USD per month on personal expenses. He has also demonstrated a strong commitment to charitable causes, donating significant amounts to organizations like the Community Chest of Korea and the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

Faker career achievements

Faker is by far the most decorated League of Legends player of all time, having won numerous accolades throughout his career on both the domestic and international stages.

International awards

6x World Championship Titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025) - most Worlds titles out of any pro LoL player and the only player/team to achieve a three-peat (2023-2025)
2x Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) titles back-to-back (2016, 2017)
1x Esports World Cup (2024)
1x IEM Katowice (2016)
1x Rift Rivals (2019)
Asian Games 2022 Gold Medal
Asian Games 2018 Silver Medal

LCK awards

10x LCK titles (Summer 2013, Winter 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022)

Individual awards

LoL Esports Hall of Legends Inductee (2024) - first ever inductee
World Championship Finals MVP (2013, 2015, 2024)
Worlds MVP (2016)
MSI MVP (2016)
Best Esports Athlete at The Game Awards (2017, 2023, 2024)
PC Player of the Year (2023, 2024) - Esports Awards
PC Player of the Decade (2025) - Esports Awards
Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Entertainment & Sports (2019)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 (2025)
LCK Player of the Year (2023)
Esports World CUP MVP (2024)
LCK Mid Laner of the Year (2023)
LCK Season MVP 2x (Summer 2013, Winter 2014)
LCK Finals MVP (Summer 2015)
LCK 1st All-Pro Team 2x (Spring 2022, Spring 2023)
LCK 2nd All-Pro Team 2x (Summer 2022, Spring 2024)
LCK 3rd All-Pro Team 1x (Spring 2020)
All-Star appearances 7x (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
ESL Esports Hall of Fame (2019)

Record-breaking achievements

First player to reach 1,000 LCK games (2025)
First player to reach 3,500 kills in LCK (2025)
First player to reach 100 World Championship wins
First player to reach 500 kills on the Worlds stage
First player to reach 5,000 assists in LCK (2024)
First player to reach 3,000 kills in LCK (2024)
First player to reach 600 wins in LCK (2024)
Most kills and assists in World Championship matches
First player to earn over $2 million in LoL tournament prize money

The Historic 2025 World Championship Three-peat

In November 2025, Faker and T1 made history by achieving what no other League of Legends team had ever accomplished: winning three consecutive World Championships.

The 2025 World Championship finals saw T1 face off against fellow Korean powerhouse KT Rolster in Chengdu, China. The series went the full distance, with T1 emerging victorious 3-2 in a thrilling five-game series.

After taking the first game, T1 dropped the next two, putting them on the brink of elimination. However, demonstrating the resilience and clutch performance that has defined their dynasty, T1 rallied to win games four and five, securing their sixth World Championship trophy.

This victory marked Faker's sixth World Championship title, extending his own record as the most successful League of Legends player of all time. The three-peat (2023, 2024, 2025) represents an unprecedented level of sustained excellence in the esports world.

The championship roster that achieved the three-peat consisted of Faker, Oner (jungler), Gumayusi (ADC), Keria (support), and Doran (top laner). While Faker has been the constant presence, this core group has created one of the most dominant dynasties in esports history.

Hall of Legends 2024 and Faker skin

Hall of Legends event

In 2024, Riot has created a unique way of celebrating and immortalizing the accomplishments of the game’s most decorated professional players.

By launching the Hall of Legends event, Riot aims to pay tribute to legendary figures in League of Legends Esports history. Obviously, who is better suited to be the first inductee than Faker, the game’s most decorated player?

In honor of Faker’s legendary Esports career, Riot has created an entire in-game event that revolves around his illustrious career, from his earliest days when he outplayed Ryu on Zed, to the moment he lifted his fourth World Championship title.

This event included a purchasable pass for 1950RP that unlocked a myriad of cosmetic prizes in its progression system, including skins, icons, and Hextech crafting crates.

Apart from being the face of the "Hall of Legends" event, Faker has appeared in numerous League of Legends-related cinematics and music videos in the past.

Faker LeBlanc skin

Every League of Legends event introduces new skins into the game, and the Hall of Legends event was no different.

In order to celebrate Faker’s consistent accomplishments on the international stage, Riot has designed thematic skins for his favorite champions, one of which is his famous LeBlanc.

Named Risen Legend LeBlanc, this skin features unique visual effects and a design that pays homage to Faker’s signature plays with the champion.

Risen Legend LeBlanc boasts special animations, sound effects, a unique voice line, as well as a custom recall animation that reflects Faker’s legendary status in the LoL Esports world.

This skin was easily obtainable for the duration of this event, as it was given out as the reward for reaching milestone 10 of the Hall of Legends pass.

Faker Ahri Skin

Apart from releasing a LeBlanc skin, Riot has released three variations of an Ahri skin to celebrate Faker’s legacy on this champion.

Risen Legend Ahri

Risen Legend Ahri is the base variation of the skin that features various unique voice-overs, animations, and Faker-related easter eggs.

Unlike Risen Legend LeBlanc, this Ahri skin was not obtainable as a part of the Hall of Legends pass milestone system.

Instead, the only way you could obtain this skin is by purchasing one of the bundles that was in the store at the time of this event.

The bundle in question was named the Risen Legend Collection. Priced at 5350RP (around 40$), this bundle included the Risen Legend Ahri skin, Ahri champion (if you didn’t already own her), and the premium Hall of Legends pass.

Immortalized Legend Ahri and Signature Faker Ahri

Apart from the original Risen Legend Ahri bundle, players could also purchase the Immortalized Legend Ahri Collection, which features a more prestigious version of the skin.

This collection priced at 32,430RP ($240) includes the Immortalized Legend Ahri skin, which boasts enhanced visual and sound effects and custom animations.

Apart from this bundle, players could also purchase the Immortalized Signature Legend Ahri Collection, priced at a whopping 59,260 RP ($430).

The Signature Legend Ahri variation of the skin includes unique Faker structure finishes, emotes, profile borders, and banners.

That being said, due to the skin’s outrageously high price, Riot has received continuous backlash from the community that wanted to purchase their favorite player’s skin at a reasonable price.