Magnus Carlsen Highest-Paid Chess grandmaster in the World

It's been a rough year for the chess grandmaster, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 35-year-old Magnus Carlsen has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid chess grandmasters for 2026 with an estimated $58 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 22/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Magnus Carlsen tops annual list of highest-paid chess grandmasters

In 2023 it looked like the chess grandmaster’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Saturday (March 21) that Carlsen is the highest-paid chess grandmaster in the world, pulling in an astonishing $58 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $30 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Norvegian chess grandmaster has an estimated net worth of $185 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Carlsen Burger” chain) in Oslo, a Football Team (the “Tønsberg Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondercarlsen - Norway), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Magnus) and a fashion line called “Magnus Carlsen Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Magnus fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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