CS2 Major Sticker Revenue Explained: Aurora Founder Reveals Teams Can Earn $400K From One Capsule

The Counter-Strike 2 esports economy continues to revolve around one of its biggest revenue drivers: Major sticker sales.

Aurora Gaming founder Valeriy “L3rich” Kharitonov recently shared a rare public estimate of how much teams earn from CS2 Major sticker capsules. According to him, teams placed in the third sticker capsule earn roughly $400,000.

“Teams from the third Major capsule get $400,000. For tier-2, this can be an annual salary budget.”

For many organizations outside the top tier, this is not just a bonus — it can be the difference between operating at a loss and staying financially stable for the entire year.

Why Major Qualification Is Financially Critical

Sticker sales have become one of the largest income streams in Counter-Strike esports, often surpassing tournament prize pools.

For smaller organizations, qualifying for a Major means:

Guaranteed revenue regardless of match results

Financial stability for months or even a full season

A major incentive to invest in roster development

In short: making a Major is often more valuable than winning most tournaments.

How $400K Fits Into Recent Sticker Revenue Reports

Aurora’s estimate aligns with multiple recent insider reports and public statements that reveal the scale of sticker earnings across different Majors.

Shanghai Major 2024: Up to $1.2M Per Organization

Insider Ivan Burachenko reported that teams earned $800,000–$1.2 million from team stickers at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 — similar to payouts from Copenhagen Major 2024.

Paris Major 2023: Over $110 Million Generated

According to HLTV sources, sticker sales for the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 exceeded $110 million in total revenue, averaging millions per participating team depending on capsule placement.

Valve’s Own Statement (Berlin Major 2019)

Valve previously confirmed that over $11 million from Berlin Major 2019 items was paid out to teams and players — showing how the system has scaled dramatically over time.

Players Confirm How Lucrative Stickers Are

Professional players have repeatedly confirmed that stickers are a major part of their income.

roeJ (former pro):

Earned roughly $600K–$900K from stickers alone across four Majors.

NickelBack:

Estimated $200K–$250K per player per Major in sticker income.

STYKO:

Publicly pledged to donate 20% of his sticker earnings, highlighting how significant these payouts can be.

The Timing Problem: Late Sticker Releases Can Hurt Earnings

The CS2 sticker economy isn’t without controversy.

Team owners have warned that delayed sticker releases drastically reduce revenue.
One organization estimated that releasing stickers only during playoffs can cut earnings by 2–4× compared to earlier releases.

This debate continues to be one of the most discussed business issues in the Counter-Strike ecosystem.

Why Sticker Capsules Define the CS2 Esports Economy

Putting all data together shows a clear hierarchy of earnings:

This explains why Major qualification remains the ultimate financial milestone for CS2 organizations.

Key Takeaways for the CS2 Economy

1. Sticker revenue rivals sponsorships and prize pools
For many teams, stickers are the single biggest yearly income stream.

2. Even tier-2 teams can secure a full-year budget from one Major
Aurora’s $400K estimate proves how transformative qualification can be.

3. Major participation is more valuable than ever
The gap between teams that qualify and those that don’t continues to widen.