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
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
Valorant
OBS Game Capture isn’t working on Valorant and League of Legends? Here’s why and how to fix it
Khizar Mundia
Several reports suggest that OBS Game Capture is broken, with Valorant and League of Legends streamers only being able to broadcast a black screen. OBS has responded to the issue, confirming that it exists and also provided a way to fix it. Valorant and League of Legends are two of Riot Games’ most popular titles, and they are being streamed on streaming platforms by creators regularly. On July 21, 2026, ...
League of Legends
Dplus sweeps Karmine Corp to win the 2026 LoL EWC grand final
Hannan Mundia
The League of Legends Esports World Cup 2026 grand final just concluded, where Dplus absolutely swept Karmine Corp to win it all. The League of Legends Esports World Cup may only have been taking place since 2024, but it has already become a key international event for fans and professional players. With a large prize pool and consecutive matches with little delay, fans have a blast seeing their favorite teams ...
