Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has once again led Forbes' annual list of the world's top-earning chess players for 2026, based on 2025 prize money. He earned $1.37 million without pursuing the formal world championship title. Two young Uzbek players, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov, also broke into the top 10.
Forbes released its 2026 ranking of the 10 highest-paid chess players on February 5, 2026, highlighting earnings from tournaments throughout 2025. The list underscores the growing financial rewards in chess, driven by events like the Esports World Cup and freestyle chess competitions, which provided large prize pools even in the absence of a world championship match.
Magnus Carlsen, from Norway, dominated the year by winning tournaments across multiple continents, securing $1.37 million in prize money. American players followed closely, with Fabiano Caruana earning $1.05 million and Levon Aronian taking $832,272. Hikaru Nakamura, another American, staged a strong comeback after a subdued 2024, amassing $737,967.
The ranking also featured rising stars: India's Arjun Erigaisi with $497,199, France's Alireza Firouzja at $474,792, Germany's Vincent Keymer with $469,997, and France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave earning $461,110. Uzbekistan celebrated breakthroughs by two young grandmasters—Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who won major events including the London Chess Classic and earned $371,837, and Javokhir Sindarov, who claimed a historic victory at the FIDE World Cup, netting $360,083.
This list reflects chess's expanding global appeal and the sport's increasing monetization through diverse formats and international events.
