Faker the only esports player on Forbes 2019 Asia 30 Under 30 list
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok was recently named 30 Under 30 in Forbes Asia 2019 list.
Named among athletes, musicians, and artists, Faker was the only esports player on Forbes “entertainment and sports” category.
“Nicknamed god of computer game ‘League of Legends,’ Faker is generally regarded in the gaming community as the greatest LoL player of all time,” reads the
official
description.
The listing goes on to list the 22-year-old gamer’s accomplishments, which include leading SK Telecom T1 to three World Championships and receiving the 2018 David Yan award for “most beloved gamer.”
Faker’s name was first popularized in 2012, when Riot released League of Legends in Korea. He entertained League fans when he dominated with Syndra, a champion who had a win-rate lower than 30 percent in those earlier days. In fact, he was winning so many games at such a fast pace that matchmaking began to take too long for him. That’s when Faker moved to ranked games.
SK Telecom T1 soon approached Faker, asking him to join their sister team SK T1 K. Playing with three-time World Champion Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong and Cloud9’s Jung “Impact” Eon-yeong, the team soon came to dominate the scene.
Their first opponent at OLYMPUS Champions Spring 2013 was CJ Entus Blaze. They were known as the strongest team in the LCK at the time, but Faker easily shattered people’s predictions for the match. Faker’s team continued to win throughout the year, going on to win the World Championship title.
Faker has continued to be popular throughout his seven-year career thanks to consistently positive results and skilled gameplay. There have been a few ups and downs along the way, but nothing big enough to affect Faker’s confidence or his popularity.
Faker’s estimated net worth is $4 million. Faker’s most recent contract with SK Telecom T1 was rumored to be worth $2.5 million. He also has earned more than $1 million in prize winnings throughout his programming career.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
View full profile
Read Also
Esports Betting
Top Esports beats Team WE in the LPL, qualifies for MSI 2026
Wasif Ahmed
Against all odds, Top Esports faced Team WE in the LPL upper bracket final. Both teams fought over a spot for the Mid-Season Invitational that everyone expected Anyone’s Legend, Bilibili Gaming, or JD Gaming to claim. In the end, TES paused WE’s Cinderella story as they beat them 3-0. Before this series, World Elite had defeated two LPL powerhouses in BLG and AL. Against TES, though, they suddenly lost all ...
League of Legends
G2 Esports complete comeback against Karmine Corp to win LEC Spring 2026
Hannan Mundia
After a fairly smooth split, G2 Esports emerged victorious in the 2026 LEC Spring split grand final by making a comeback against Karmine Corp. The 2026 LEC Spring split has finally concluded. With spots at MSI and the Esports World Cup on the line, every professional European team gave it their all to get as far as they could. While most teams fell quickly, Karmine Corp and G2 Esports managed ...
Esports Betting
G2 Esports vs Karmine Corp 2026 LEC Spring: Best odds, picks
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Spring split is about to conclude, with G2 Esports and Karmine Corp facing off one last time to see which team qualifies for the Esports World Cup. While both teams have done well to make it to this LEC split’s grand final, only one team can be crowned the victor. With a direct ticket to the EWC on the line, there’s a strong chance that G2’s dominating ...
Esports Betting
MKOI vs Karmine Corp 2026 LEC Spring betting preview: Best odds and picks
Hannan Mundia
Two LEC spots are open for this year’s Mid-Season Invitational, and MKOI will battle against Karmine Corp to determine which team grabs it. The ongoing LEC Spring split is almost done, and only three teams remain. While G2 Esports has already established itself as the strongest so far with a guaranteed spot in the grand final, Movistar KOI and Karmine Corp will battle it out on the big stage for ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Road to MSI: Teams, format, and schedule
Hannan Mundia
With the LCK 2026 Rounds 1-2 complete, the qualified teams will battle it out in Road to MSI. With two spots for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational and one spot for the 2026 Esports World Cup on the line, here’s everything to know about the LCK 2026 Road to MSI. Six teams have qualified for Road to MSI, but only two MSI spots are available for this region. While powerhouse teams ...
Esports Betting
KT Rolster vs T1 2026 LCK Season Rounds 1-2: Best odds and picks
Hannan Mundia
KT Rolster and T1 will face off in the last week of 2026 LCK Rounds 1-2 to potentially improve their starting position at Road to MSI. KT Rolster and T1 have both had their moment to shine in the ongoing 2026 LCK split. With one week remaining, the two teams will battle against each other for a chance at acquiring second place and starting with a significant advantage in the ...
Esports Betting
EWC officially heads to Paris for 2026 as early reports confirmed
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 will take place in Paris, France from July later this year as per an new announcement by the EWC organizers, the Esports Foundation. Revealed in a post on their official social media, and an accompanying release and blog post, the announcement confirmed earlier speculation that the event would move location due to the “regional situation” around Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here’s the info: The Esports World ...
