Profession/Career: | E-Sports Gamer |
Net Worth: | $20 million |
Salary: | $7.1 million (in 2022), to renegotiate 2023 |
College: | Dropped out of Mapo High School |
Real Name: | Lee Sang-Hyeok |
Date of Birth (Age): | May 7, 1996 (27 years old) |
Place of Birth: | Seoul, South Korea |
Frequently Associated With
- League of Legends (Riot Games)
- SK Telecom T1
Faker’s Early Life
As a kid, Faker was raised by his father and his grandmother. As his father worked, his grandmother looked after him as much as she could. Faker grew up playing in the arcade a lot during his younger years. He often played fighter games like Tekken and King of Fighters. As he switched to PC gaming, he started playing games such as Warcraft 3. He didn’t start playing League of Legends until 2011. He quickly got good at this game and was soon picked up barely a year later by a professional team called SK Telecom T1. He become world renowned shortly after.
Did Faker Grow Up Poor?
Faker did indeed grow up poor. His father was an interior designer and a single parent who qualified for basic livelihood security, which is basically welfare that is given to families that are of the lowest income bracket. Faker’s father had to provide for Faker, Faker’s younger brother, and grandmother.
Faker himself is extremely frugal as a result. He states, “We weren’t well off when I was younger, and it doesn’t feel all that much different now because I am not a greedy person.” He is very humble about his success, and even goes on to say that he doesn’t spend much because there’s not much for him to spend on. He doesn’t enjoy eating out or shopping, nor does he have a girlfriend.
Faker’s Tournament Wins and Awards
Winning 3 League of Legends World Championships (2013, 2015, 2016) with his team, SK Telecom T1.
Winning 8 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Summer, 2018 Spring, 2018 Summer, 2019 Summer) with SK Telecom T1 and T1.
Being named the MVP of the 2013, 2015, and 2016 League of Legends World Championships.
Being named the MVP of the LCK Spring Split in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Being named the MVP of the LCK Summer Split in 2013, 2016, and 2017.
Being named the MVP of the All-Star Paris 2014.
Being the first player in the world to reach 1,000 kills in the LCK.
Faker is widely considered to be one of the greatest League of Legends players of all time, if not the greatest. He has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career and continues to be a dominant force in the competitive scene.
Faker’s Hand Insurance
In July 2020, Faker’s team T1 signed a sponsorship partner deal with the famous South Korean bank, Hana Bank. Inside this contract, there was one specific clause called “Faker Right Hand Insurance”.
In this clause, it was stated that if anything happens to Faker’s right hand that will prevent him from playing, Hana Insurance, owned by Hana Bank, will pay out KR₩1 billion (US$833,600) to T1 the team.
Due to Faker’s importance, it is not surprising that this was the case. During Faker’s injury, T1 lost most of their games, which means that if Faker does not get better and has to retire, T1 will not make nearly as much money.
How Much Money Does Faker Spend (Per Month)?
As mentioned earlier, Faker doesn’t go out shopping much, doesn’t eat out, and doesn’t have a girlfriend to spend his money on. He did upgrade to a larger apartment for his family to live in, which is still extremely modest at less than 2,000 square feet total compared to his entire net worth.
His monthly expenses total to less than $200 USD per month. He likes to spend his money on books and gives all the rest to his father to manage. Keep in mind that as a professional E-Sports gamer, he does live in a house and has meals and necessities provided to him by his sponsoring team. Still, it’s very admirable that he doesn’t feel the need to flaunt his money in any way. Truly a humble dude.
Faker’s Girlfriend
Non-existent at this point, but he states he may try to give dating a shot at some point. Hopefully not too soon, as it’ll probably be the trigger for his professional career declining… just kidding, hopefully.
Faker’s Family
Faker’s family consists of his father, an interior designer, his grandmother, and his younger brother. No girlfriend or wife at the moment.
Faker’s Hobbies
Other than the obvious gaming that he turned into a professional career, Faker likes to read in his free time.
Faker’s PC setup
Faker uses custom-built gaming PCs that are specifically designed to handle the intense demands of competitive gaming.
Here are some details about Faker’s computer setup:
- Processor: Intel Core i9-7900X
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti
- Memory: 32GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Monitor: BenQ XL2430T 24-inch 1080p Gaming Monitor
- Keyboard: SteelSeries Apex M750
- Mouse: Logitech G Pro Wireless
- Headset: Sennheiser GSP 600
Faker’s computer setup is customized for optimal gaming performance, with high-end hardware and components that ensure smooth and fast gameplay. His monitor has a high refresh rate, which reduces input lag and ensures that he can react quickly to in-game events. His keyboard and mouse are both designed for competitive gaming, with fast response times and customizable settings. Finally, his headset provides clear audio and noise-cancellation features, allowing Faker to focus on his gameplay without distractions.