TL;DR
- David “Aqua” Wang is knowledgeable Fortnite participant from Austria who has been competing since 2018.
- He has earned $2.19 million from 103 tournaments, making him essentially the most financially profitable Austrian gamer.
- Aqua received the inaugural (and solely) 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship with Emil “Nyhrox” Bergquist Pedersen when he was simply 17 years outdated.
- He retired from aggressive play in September 2023, although he has since performed in a handful of tournaments.
- Aqua apologised in August 2025 after outdated tweets emerged that confirmed him utilizing offensive language.
David “Aqua” Wang is essentially the most financially profitable Austrian esports competitor with profession earnings of $2.19 million.
He turned a millionaire at 17 years outdated after profitable the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship with Emil “Nyhrox” Bergquist Pedersen.
However the now 23-year-old has made solely a handful of appearances since saying his retirement from competitors in September 2023.
In our evaluation of Aqua’s internet value, we check out his match credentials, salaries, endorsements and different monetary pursuits.
Who’s Aqua?
His actual identify is David Wang. He’s a 23-year-old Fortnite participant who received the inaugural Fortnite World Cup Closing – Duo with Emil “Nyhrox” Bergquist Pedersen in 2019.
Since September 2023, he has been successfully retired from aggressive Fortnite, with solely a relative handful of appearances over the previous two years.
Nevertheless, the $2.19 million earned from esports makes him essentially the most financially profitable Austrian gamer and places him at forty third spot on the all-time wealthy record.
Aqua’s profile abstract
| Full identify | David Wang |
| In-game identify | Aqua |
| Date of beginning | July 14, 2002. At the moment 23 years outdated |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Crew | Most related to Cooler Esport |
| Years lively | 2018-present |
| Video games performed | Fortnite |
| Estimated internet value | $2.19 million |
| Greatest achievement | Successful the inaugural 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship |
What’s Aqua’s internet value in 2025?
Essentially the most dependable estimate of Aqua’s internet value is from his match earnings. This determine had reached $2.19 million as of December 8, 2025, in line with Esports Earnings.
Nevertheless, most high-level avid gamers additionally earn money from workforce salaries, endorsements, streaming, and different pursuits.
Aqua’s fundamental sources of revenue
Let’s check out Aqua’s fundamental income streams.
Prize winnings
The overwhelming majority of his wealth comes from prize cash earned by competing in Fortnite tournaments.
Greater than 80% of this complete was received in 2019, with $1.5 million coming from his victory alongside Nyhrox within the Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship.
He additionally received $171,350 in 2022 and $117,608 in 2020. His earnings since have fallen away as a result of he has taken half in solely a handful of tournaments.
Salaries
The phrases of Aqua’s contracts haven’t been disclosed for both Cooler Esports or LootBoy Esports, so an correct determine is unattainable.
Nevertheless, a report from the Influencer Advertising Hub means that high esports opponents can earn as much as $187,200 per 12 months.
It’s understood that Aqua performed for Cooler Esport between June 2019 and April 2021, after which for LootBoy Esports from December 2021 to July 2022.
In accordance with Firms Home data, London-based Cooler Esport was included on July 18, 2018, and dissolved on September 21, 2021.
Streaming
This can be a fashionable method for avid gamers to spice up their revenue, and Aqua seems to have an lively Twitch account that’s adopted by 480,000 individuals.
He’s thought to have 35 present subscribers, in line with Streams Charts, though revenue is tough to estimate as gamers have particular person contract phrases. Viewers also can pay them ideas.
On the time of writing, it has 330,000 subscribers and comprises 60 movies. The quantity he earns will rely upon his settlement with the platform.
Aqua’s enterprise ventures and investments?
There don’t seem like any public data of companies linked to Aqua or of the outstanding investments he’s made.
Aqua’s youth and background
Aqua was born and spent his whole life in Austria earlier than embarking on a exceptional esports odyssey that has taken him all over the world.
In a video interview from 2019, his mom recalled how Aqua’s father left when he was one 12 months outdated after the couple determined to go their separate methods.
“When Aqua was rising up, he was very pleasant, sporty and proficient,” she recalled. “His first phrase was ball, not mum. Aqua was taking part in on a soccer workforce, they usually received many prizes, so he received used to profitable.”
She went on to say that though he had many pals as a younger little one, he was home-schooled from concerning the age of 13, so he didn’t depart the home. He spent all his time on the PC.
Aqua’s esports profession
Aqua developed an early ardour for video video games, along with his mom solely realising he was taking part in Fortnite at first of 2019.
“In April, Aqua out of the blue started talking English in his room,” she defined. “That was the primary time I heard him, after which he knowledgeable me he’s taking part in with Nyhrox.”
In the identical video interview, Nyhrox, in any other case often known as Emil Bergquist Pedersen, recalled how he’d come throughout Aqua’s identify when he appeared on numerous leaderboards.
The pair struck up a friendship, inserting tenth of their first match collectively and incomes $2,000. They then began practising a couple of weeks earlier than the world qualifiers.
Champions of the world
Aqua’s career-defining second got here when he was 17 years outdated on the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship held on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Regardless of a difficult first three video games, Aqua and 16-year-old Nyhrox fought again to emerge victorious within the 50-team match and declare the profitable prize.
Aqua’s mom recalled how everybody was leaping up and down with pleasure after the youngsters pulled off the seemingly unattainable.
“I used to be very pleased with him, however essentially the most proud second wasn’t profitable the World Cup, it was within the corridor when he was talking to the opposite guys,” she mentioned. “He wasn’t shy, he had pals, and was utterly part of one thing.”
Breaking apart the partnership
To the shock of observers, Aqua messaged Nyhrox the next day to say he wished to finish their partnership and as a substitute play with Klaus “Stompy” Konstanzer.
At the moment, Aqua and Stompy have been already shut pals, taking part in collectively always and sharing the German language.
The duo subsequently fashioned a trio with Thomas “Tschinken” Hörak and went on to win the FNCS: Season X Grand Finals – Europe.
Aqua’s retirement and return
Aqua took to X in September 2023 to announce his departure from aggressive Fortnite.
His put up obtained greater than one million views and 984 replies. One was from his former associate, Nyhrox, who wrote: “All the very best for the longer term, my bro, thanks for all of the reminiscences.”
Lower than two months later, Aqua introduced his return. Nevertheless, he has solely made a handful of appearances over the previous couple of years.
On the time of writing, Aqua had received 26 tournaments, been runner-up in eight and positioned third in an additional 12.
Whereas his greatest earner was the $1.5 million produced from the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship, he has made six-figure sums from different tournaments.
The 2019 FNCS: Season X – Grand Finals Europe earned him $160,000, and he earned $150,000 from the 2022 FNCS: Chapter 3 Season 2 – Grand Finals Europe.
Aqua’s controversies
Whereas there have been loads of spectacular moments throughout Aqua’s profession, there have additionally been some darker days.
Epic Video games ban
In October 2020, Aqua defined on X (previously Twitter) that Epic Video games had given him a 14-day ban for posting two tweets in violation of its guidelines.
— aqua (@aquaa) October 25, 2020
Kidnapping
In early 2025, posts on X urged that Aqua had been kidnapped. Nevertheless, this was later revealed to be a part of a advertising and marketing stunt.
Offensive language
In August 2025, Aqua took to X (previously Twitter) to handle feedback attributed to him that had appeared on social media.
These referred to tweets through which he used offensive language, for which he apologised to the communities affected and to anybody harm by his phrases.
Aqua’s way of life & spending habits
In an interview after profitable the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Duo Championship, he urged he’d use a few of his $1.5 million winnings on a brand new PC.
He additionally pledged to show his consideration to how he’s dressed. “I’ve by no means purchased costly garments,” he mentioned. “I believe I’m going to purchase costly footwear, possibly Gucci footwear.”
Usually, Aqua chooses to not share a lot about his life on social media. The latest posts on Instagram, for instance, date again to November 2022.
Aqua’s philanthropy and charitable donations
Aqua doesn’t seem to assist any specific charities. Nevertheless, he might have made donations that haven’t been publicly recorded.
How does Aqua’s internet value examine to different esports stars?
Aqua is the very best incomes esports competitor from Austria along with his $2.19 million dwarfing the $634,421 of Klaus “stompy” Konstanzer in second place.
So far as Fortnite is anxious, Aqua is in second place behind Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who has earned $3.7 million in his profession.
Nevertheless, he solely ranks forty third on the all-time esports wealthy record, with a lot of the greatest earners having made their fortunes from Dota 2.
Johan “N0tail” Sundstein sits on the high, having earned a exceptional $7.2 million, whereas an additional 9 gamers have made greater than $5 million.
Conclusion
David “Aqua” Wang’s time competing on the highest degree of esports might have been comparatively temporary, nevertheless it was undoubtedly profitable.
He turned a millionaire at simply 17 years outdated after profitable the inaugural 2019 Fortnite World Cup Closing – Duos alongside Emil “Nyhrox” Bergquist Pedersen.
Nevertheless, he has confronted some controversial episodes, together with a 14-day ban for a recreation violation and an apology for utilizing offensive language.
Though he’s restricted his skilled gaming to sporadic appearances during the last two years, nobody can deny the impression he’s had on the sport.
FAQs
How a lot does Aqua make a 12 months?
It’s unknown how a lot Aqua makes in a 12 months. Nevertheless, he has earned $2.19 million in Fortnite tournaments.
Aqua is the gamertag utilized by David Wang, knowledgeable Fortnite participant from Austria.
Aqua was born on July 14, 2002. On the time of writing, he’s 23 years outdated.
What’s Aqua’s actual identify?
Aqua’s actual identify is David Wang.
What workforce does Aqua play for?
Aqua has been unbiased extra lately, however beforehand performed for Cooler Esport and LootBoy Esports.
