Professional Fortnite player makes $45,000 after dropping out of school

An Aussie teen has a successful new career as a professional Fortnite gamer after convincing his parents to let him drop out of school.

An Aussie teenager has started a successful career as a professional Fortnite gamer after convincing his parents to let him drop out of school.

Alex Mackechnie, 17, now plays video game Fortnite full time after dropping out of school, and says he’s made more than $45,000 in prize money.

He said he made the decision to leave school after getting the okay from his dad Matthew Mackechnie, a podiatrist, who told A Current Affair, “Some days he makes more than I do”.

Matthew said he didn’t imagine he’d ever be pulling his child out of school for gaming.

“We didn’t think we would ever be doing that for any child,” Matthew said.

“When you send them off for education, Year 12 – that is it, there is no compromise.” Matthew said.

But Alex said after “a little convincing” he was able to talk his parents into letting him drop out of school.

Fortnite is a first person battle survival game, where players try to be the last person standing in a warfare-type environment.

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Alex Mackechnie quit school to pursue his career as a gamer. Picture: ACA

Fortnite gamer Alex Mackechnie makes thousands playing the video game. Picture: ACA

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Alex is currently ranked 77th in the world, out of 350 million total players, his father claimed.

“We’re proud of him because he doesn’t just do it for the money,” Matthew said. “He does it because he wants to be the best.”

Fortnite gamers can participate in competitive World Cup tournaments run by the company, which include $143 million (US $100 million) in prize money. The 200 qualifiers all walk away with at least $71,182 (US $50,000) in prize money and the winner takes home $4.28 million (US $3 million).

Alex, who plays Fortnite an average of six to eight hours, and up to 12 hours a day, said he hopes to become a millionaire from the game one day.

His father Matt said Alex is young but 16 to 17 is the average age that gamers reach their peak performance.