How a lot has gamer and efficiency coach Jesse Vainikka made?

Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka might have retired from lively competitors, however he stays one of the vital profitable players of his technology.

The 33-year-old from Helsinki, Finland, was a part of the notorious OG staff that gained The Worldwide in 2018 and 2019.

However after making a formidable $6.48 million in profession earnings, he shocked the skilled esports world by retiring from lively competitors.

Right here we study JerAx’s profession, discover why he walked away on the top of his powers, and have a look at what he’s been doing within the years since. 

JerAx is without doubt one of the most recognisable names in elite-level gaming. The retired Dota 2 participant, actual title is Jesse Vainikka, hails from Helsinki, Finland.

He was born on Could 7, 1992, which makes him 33 years previous on the time of writing, and he managed to show a childhood ardour for video video games right into a financially profitable profession.

His gamer title is a mixture of Jesse and Cyrax, the character from the Mortal Kombat online game collection.

Though he stepped away from actively taking part in in 2020, he has since made sporadic appearances, in addition to reinventing himself as a psychological efficiency coach.

The majority of his internet price is believed to come back from the $6.48 million in prize cash he comprised of 69 tournaments, in line with Esports Earnings, primarily from Dota 2 tournaments.

Greater than $5 million got here from OG’s TI wins in 2018 and 2019, whereas different victories embrace The Boston Main in 2016 and The Kiev Main in 2017. Every netted him $200,000.

Most of JerAx’s revenue has come from the prize cash gained at varied worldwide Dota 2 occasions throughout a comparatively brief taking part in profession.

In January 2018, he introduced on Instagram the launch of his personal web site, which might promote merchandise, corresponding to t-shirts and hoodies, and supply a platform for followers to ask questions.

It’s unclear how a lot he earned from this enterprise, and the web site (www.jerax.gg) now not seems to be lively, as of September 2025.

Extra lately, JerAx has provided his companies as a psychological efficiency coach, for which he normally prices $60 per hour, in line with his profile on Metafy. 

Individually, it’s seemingly that he has earned cash previously from streaming, though there isn’t a latest information on subscriber numbers.

JerAx was born in Helsinki, Finland, on Could 7, 1992. In an interview with Purple Bull, he recalled a cheerful childhood. “I keep in mind vividly how my mother and father had been very supportive,” he mentioned. 

His early days had been spent taking part in soccer and video video games along with his associates. His dad additionally constructed computer systems, so this helped help his curiosity. 

“As there was no web, it was pure to simply get across the similar PC and play on the identical keyboard,” he defined.

He started taking part in Dota on the age of 15 and in addition turned a critical contender in Heroes of Newerth.

Nevertheless, it was after travelling to Sweden for a contest that he acquired his first perception into what it could be prefer to play esports professionally.

It’s truthful to say that JerAx loved speedy profession development after beginning out as an impartial again in 2013, in line with Esports Earnings.

After spells with 4 Anchors & Sea Captain, Staff Tinker, South Korean staff MVP Hot6ix and Staff Liquid, he joined up with the OG staff in 2016. This proved to be his most profitable spell, with earnings of simply over $6 million from 35 tournaments. This accounts for round 93% of his profession complete prize cash. 

In early 2020, it was introduced that JerAx was leaving the OG lively roster, and his staff gave him their full help.

They wrote: “Jesse determined that it was time for him to pursue new issues in life, and we couldn’t be prouder to have labored so a few years with such an incredible, inventive, good and healthful man.

“Collectively we traveled the world, we gained, we misplaced as properly, we skilled so many issues. And being associates additionally means letting them go generally.”

As a part of his departure announcement from OG, JerAx famous how the aggressive atmosphere pushes everybody to be at their finest always, however argued this wasn’t sustainable. He highlighted the stress to win on people, teammates, and the organisation backing them, likening it to psychological warfare.

“Dwelling on this tradition has hit me onerous,” he wrote. “Excited about the yearly ‘grind’ makes me really feel apathetic, exhausted, and nearly numb.”

He went on to say that whereas he had been very lucky to compete professionally, he now not had the “willingness nor ardour” to proceed taking part in Dota 2.  

“For me the choice to pursue one other path is obvious, and I’ve no doubts about it,” he added.

Since stepping away from being an lively competitor, JerAx has established himself as a efficiency coach.

Earlier this yr, he additionally took to X to disclose he’d been working with particular person shoppers to deal with points corresponding to burnout, low shallowness, and feeling caught. On his Metafy profile, which has 86 subscribers, JerAx states he’s educated in motivational interviewing, non-violent communication, and cognitive behavioural remedy. He additionally highlights how he may also help players perceive the place they’re of their careers and overcome psychological obstacles.

“We’ll uncover your strengths, discover your objectives, and devise actionable plans on your development in the direction of turning into a greater participant,” he provides.

Comparatively little is thought about JerAx away from the keyboard, as he’s not very lively on social media. His most up-to-date put up on Instagram, the place he has over 92,000 followers, was a scenic shot in June 2025, with none accompanying rationalization.

JerAx actually appears to treasure the quiet life. He hasn’t publicised any important purchases, and there’s little details about his day-to-day actions. In earlier interviews, nevertheless, he has emphasised the significance of being at dwelling within the countryside and reconnecting with associates now that his lively taking part in days are over.

JerAx reportedly donated his gaming chair to be auctioned off for charity alongside merchandise from soccer stars Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney.

The chair raised a formidable sum of $5,800 on the 2020 occasion organised in collaboration with Valavuori Stay, a Finnish speak present.

It compares very favourably. JerAx is at the moment the second-highest earner with $6.48 million, solely trailing fellow Dota 2 star N0tail, who has remodeled $7 million.

His finest years got here in 2018 and 2019, helped enormously by being a part of the OG staff that gained back-to-back TI victories, in line with Esports Earnings.

JerAx earned $3.16 million from 9 tournaments in 2019, which was higher than the $2.29 million comprised of 10 occasions the earlier yr.

Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka amassed a multi-million greenback fortune in lower than 10 years earlier than retiring from lively competitors.

He has been very open in regards to the toll taking part in esports on the highest degree has had on his friendships and psychological state.

This perception has helped him turn out to be a psychological efficiency coach for the subsequent technology of esports stars who solely stand to profit from his experiences.