Dan "apEX" Madesclaire is a legendary figure in the Counter-Strike world, currently serving as the In-Game Leader (IGL) for Team Vitality. At 32 years old, the French veteran remains at the absolute pinnacle of the game, recently leading his squad to a historic season in 2025.

What makes apEX truly iconic is his remarkable evolution and longevity. His professional journey began in 2009 during the Counter-Strike: Source era, making his career one of the longest and most successful in the history of the franchise. Over the span of 16 years, he has successfully transitioned from a hyper-aggressive star entry fragger, known for his raw aim and "annoying" playstyle, into one of the most respected tactical minds in CS2.

How Old Is apEX in 2026? Age, Birthday, Nationality 

Dan Madesclaire was born on February 22, 1993 in Charmes, France. Despite being a veteran, apEX remains one of the most effective and high-energy captains in the world. He has spent over 16 years in competitive Counter-Strike, transitioning from a star aggressive rifler in CS: Source and early CS:GO to the tactical mastermind who led Team Vitality to multiple Major titles, including a dominant 2025 season.

Career Path: From Early CS:GO Days to CS2

Before the release of CS:GO, apEX was a standout talent in Counter-Strike: Source. He began his professional journey in 2009 with teams like gamed!de and Team Sypher, quickly earning a reputation for his aggressive, fearless playstyle. He transitioned to CS:GO in August 2012 with Anexis.

In 2013, He won the ESWC 2013 with Clan-Mystik, signaling the arrival of a new French threat. Then he joined LDLC and made a top-4 at ESL One Cologne 2014. After short stint in White-Blue team, Dan played for Titan. Later he and legendary sniper kennyS were transferred to Team EnVyUs, forming a new French power team. The peak of this era came at DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015, where apEX won his first Major title, cementing himself as the best entry fragger in France.

In 2017, apEX joined the much-hyped G2 Esports "Superteam" alongside shox and kennyS. While they won titles like the ESL Pro League Season 5 and DreamHack Masters Malmö, the team struggled with consistency. By mid-2018, apEX was moved to the bench, leading to the biggest turning point of his career.

In October 2018, apEX helped found the first-ever CS:GO team for Vitality. In March 2020, following the departure of ALEX, apEX made the risky decision to take over the In-Game Leader (IGL) role.

Under apEX's leadership, Team Vitality successfully transitioned from a French core to a world-beating international roster. He led the team to victory at the BLAST.tv Paris Major, the final Major of the CS:GO era. Vitality continued their dominance in CS2, winning IEM Cologne 2024.

apEX captained Vitality through a historic season, winning IEM Katowice, the BLAST Austin Major, and the StarLadder Budapest Major.

Today, apEX stands as one of the most decorated players in history, tied for the record of most Tier-1 trophies won and holding four Major titles across two different versions of the game.

apEX Salary, Earnings and Net Worth in 2026

As of early 2026, apEX's total career prize money is approximately $2,243,912.

He recently overtook several legendary players on the all-time list following a dominant 2025 campaign where he led Team Vitality to multiple titles. His earnings are broken down by era as follows:

  • CS2 Era (2023–Present): ~$1,100,000+

  • CS:GO Era (2012–2023): ~$1,298,119

  • CS: Source Era: ~$5,000 (Early career)

While Team Vitality does not publicly disclose exact contract figures, industry reports and "leaks" from the professional scene provide a clear estimate:

  • Estimated Monthly Salary: $35,000 – $60,000

  • Estimated Annual Salary: $420,000 – $720,000

While his teammate ZywOo reportedly commands a salary of roughly $100,000 per month, apEX’s veteran status and role as the In-Game Leader (IGL) place him in the highest tier of earners within the organization.

His estimated net worth is currently between $2.5 million and $3.5 million.

apEX CS2 Inventory & Skins — Signature Loadout

Survival Knife | Fade 

Specialist Gloves | Fade

StatTrak™ AK-47 | Fuel Injector

StatTrak™ M4A1-S | Cyrex

Desert Eagle | Blaze

He’s actively using our platform to buy news skins for his collection. Watch the special video where apEX shares his experience at Skin.Land.


apEX Equipment — Mouse, Keyboard, Headset, Mousepad 

apEX relies on a precision-tuned hardware setup that balances high-speed responsiveness with ergonomic reliability. His choice of peripherals is specifically optimized to support the intense vocal leadership and aggressive entry-fragging required at the highest level of CS2.

  • Mouse: VAXEE E1 Wireless (Fluorescent Green)

  • Keyboard: ASUS ROG Falchion Ace HFX

  • Headset: ASUS ROG Delta II

  • Mousepad: Xtrfy GPZ1

  • Monitor: ZOWIE XL2546K

apEX CS2 Pro Settings

Video Settings:

  • Resolution: 1280x960

  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9

  • Scaling Mode: Native

  • Refresh Rate: 360Hz

Mouse Settings:

  • DPI: 400

  • Sensitivity: 1.91

  • eDPI: 764

  • Zoom Sensitivity: 6

  • Hz: 1000

Crosshair Code: CSGO-US8wR-VECem-xkyHs-Vz5CY-wwXsO

Check out our special article about apex’s settings in CS2.

apEX Personal Life — Family, Wife, Relationships, Hobbies & Off-Stage Personality

Outside CS, Daw was recognized early on as a natural leader, a trait that helped him transition from a football-loving teenager to a legendary tactical captain. Today, he balances the high-octane world of CS2 with a quiet lifestyle and personal hobbies like fishing, which help him maintain the mental longevity required for his 16-year career.



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