Alexis and TenZ join the Forbes US Games 30 under 30 list

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VALORANT players SRG Alexis and former professional player TenZ were recognized on Forbes’ 2025 US Games 30 Under 30 list, making them the only players from the game to receive the honor.

It can be frustrating when people dismiss gaming as just a hobby, but there’s plenty of evidence showing it’s a legitimate passion – and even a successful career path. Pro gamers Alexis Guarrasi and Tyson Ngo are great examples. They’ve both been recognized for their achievements by being included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for gaming.

Alexis and Tenz in the Forbes US Games 30 under 30 list

Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for US Games recognized only two VALORANT pros: Alexis and TenZ. They were the only players from the game included on the list.

Alexis is a top earner in VALORANT and has been recognized by Forbes as a leading professional player who promotes inclusivity in esports. She’s won over $150,000 in tournaments, including 13 regional championships, and has become a role model for many young female gamers, proving that women can excel alongside men in competitive gaming.

TenZ has revolutionized the first-person shooter (FPS) world. The Canadian player’s incredible precision and overall skill have attracted a huge fanbase, with people traveling from all over to watch him compete. Similar to Alexis, he motivates aspiring young gamers, and many of them have gone on to become professional players themselves. TenZ has already achieved significant success, winning two Masters championships and a national title.

In 2024, TenZ stepped down from professional gaming and now focuses on creating content full-time. He’s also become a prominent voice for improving the game, helping it evolve and stay popular. Both TenZ and the game itself have been incredibly influential, bringing success and recognition to VALORANT and solidifying its place as a favorite in the first-person shooter genre.

The Forbes list

Emily Schunk, known as Emiru on Twitch, is also a top earner. Forbes estimates she made about $1.5 million in the last year. This income comes from being Twitch’s most-watched female streamer and from creating content that goes beyond just video games, according to the magazine.

The other names on the list are:

  • Emily “Emiru” Schunk (Creator, Emiru)
  • Ana Aguilar (CEO, Krestrel Studios)
  • Amanda Asofshy (Digital Product Manager, Wizards of The Coast)
  • Michelle Cheng (Creator Operations Lead, Respawn Entertainment)
  • Keanu Concepcion (Product Manager, Netflix)
  • Julian Cordero (Game Designer, Despelote)
  • John (Jack) Folkner, Holly Jencka, Ian Steagall (Cofounders, Dark Machine Games)
  • Sebastien Delvaux (Cofounder, Evolved)
  • Evan Downey (Cofounder, Milhouse)
  • Rohan Kapur (Principal Engineer, Backbone)
  • Ibrahim Hafeez (Principal, Griffin Gaming Partners)
  • Jordan Holland (Cofounder, Atlas Creative)
  • Salaar Kohari (Cofounder, CAGE Studios)
  • Jordan Lazarus (Founder, Xen Gaming)
  • Hollis Lehv (Senior Software Engineer, Riot Games)
  • Spencer Ma (Director of Growth, Carry1st)
  • Ashley Poprik (Senior Writer, Bungie)
  • Holly Reddaway (Voice and Performance Director, Freelance)
  • Yudi Sun (Product Design Director, Duolingo)
  • Crystal Yang (Founder, Audemy)
  • Isadora Rodopoulos (Cofounder, Coldblood)
  • Francisco Rodriguez (Growth Operations, Meta)
  • Roxanne Sabo (Senior Global Community and Marketing Lead, Amazon Games)
  • Judah Silver (Agent, United Talent Agency)
  • Rachel Sima (Lead Producer, Firaxis Games)
  • Emily Sorger (Technical Producer, Jam City)
  • Jagdish Whitten (Strategy Director, Zoned)
  • Stephen Works (Creator, SpringSims)

The judging panel included Angela Browder from Bethesda Game Studios, Jason Chapman of Konvoy Ventures, popular content creator Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, and Selina Liu from Riot Games.

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2025-12-03 02:41