NickMercs: Age, Real Name, Wife, Net Worth, FaZe Exit & Controller

Few streamers have been live on Twitch for as long as NickMercs. Nick Kolcheff was a Gears of War champion before most of today's stars had a webcam, and he is still one of the biggest names in shooter streaming more than 15 years later. His bearded, backwards-cap persona, his devoted "MFAM" community and his blunt opinions have made him one of the most popular and most argued-about creators in gaming.

Quick facts

Who is NickMercs?

NickMercs is an American streamer and YouTuber who was born on 21 November 1990, which makes him 35. He grew up in the Detroit area of Michigan and is best known for controller-based shooters: Gears of War in his esports days, then Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends on stream.

On 26 October 2026 he had about 6.79 million followers on Twitch, around 4.1 million subscribers on YouTube and about 260,000 followers on Kick. He calls his fan community the MFAM, short for "Mercs Family", and the name now covers his merchandise, events and tournaments.

Career timeline

Early life and Gears of War career

Kolcheff comes from a sporting family, and his parents were not keen on gaming as a career. He has said they once broke his Xbox to make him stop. He started playing competitively online at around 14, on Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory ladders on GameBattles, and then fell for Gears of War when it came out in 2006. In a 2021 interview with The Verge, he described riding his bike to GameStop to buy it and then going on a long unbeaten run on the ladders.

That led to the professional team TH3 NSAN3Z, which won the MLG Gears of War 2 national championship in 2009 and $40,000. The team won further MLG events, and the prize money gave him the first proof that gaming could pay.

Rise to streaming fame

Kolcheff started streaming in 2010, when Twitch was still Justin.tv, and launched his YouTube channel in December 2011. For years he built a loyal following in Call of Duty and Gears, but Fortnite made him a mainstream star in 2018. He was one of the best-known controller players in the game and earned more than $190,000 in Fortnite prize money.

He briefly joined 100 Thieves, but left in May 2019, saying the organisation had broken promises, including a 5% ownership stake. He joined FaZe Clan the same month and later became a co-owner. Warzone then took his audience even higher in 2020. Forbes estimated he earned about $8 million in 2021 and $15 million in 2022.

FaZe Clan, Kick and the move back to Twitch

In October 2023 he signed with Kick. Forbes reported a one-year, non-exclusive contract worth an estimated $10 million, and Kick also sponsored his MFAM Central events in Las Vegas. He started streaming mainly on Kick on 23 October 2023 but could still go live on Twitch, the same kind of deal Kick gave xQc.

On 7 November 2024 he announced that the Kick deal was up and that he would stream "primarily on Twitch" again. Two months later, on 10 January 2025, he said he had left FaZe Clan: "No issues with them whatsoever, it's just that time to move forward." FaZe thanked him for staying loyal through its hardest years and said its new direction meant the partnership no longer fitted. Forbes still put his 2025 earnings at about $13 million.

What he streams in 2026

He is still a full-time streamer. Dot Esports reported that ARC Raiders gave his viewership a lift at the start of 2026, with his channel averaging over 8,000 concurrent viewers. By October 2026 his recent Twitch categories were led by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, alongside ARC Raiders, Escape from Tarkov and Gears of War: E-Day, which is a fitting return to the series that started his career.

Collaborations and community

Over the years his most familiar teammates have included TimTheTatman, SypherPK and his old Gears rival turned friend CDNThe3rd, and he often played Apex Legends and Warzone with FaZe's pros. He runs MFAM-branded events and community tournaments such as the MFAM Gauntlet, and his partners have included Under Armour, Beats by Dre, the UFC, Corsair and SCUF. He also features in our round-up of the best American Twitch streamers.

Controversies

In June 2023 Kolcheff replied to a post about clashes outside a Glendale school board meeting on LGBTQ+ education with: "They should leave little children alone. That's the real issue." Activision then removed his Call of Duty Operator bundle, which had launched a month earlier, saying it was "focused on celebrating PRIDE", as The Verge reported. He said on stream that the tweet was not meant to be anti-gay, but he would not delete it or apologise.

On 28 June 2024 he received his first Twitch suspension after using a transphobic slur on stream. He said he had not known the word was derogatory, then posted a follow-up remark that drew more criticism. The suspension was shorter than Twitch's usual hateful-conduct bans, and he was back on 8 July.

Personal life: wife, son and where he lives

He proposed to his partner on stream in July 2019 and they married on 10 October 2020 in northern Michigan. She keeps a low profile, and fans know her by his nickname for her, "Emumita Bonita" or "Emu", rather than her real name. They announced in September 2022 that "BabyMercs" was on the way, and on 15 April 2023 he introduced their son, Niko Cruz Kolcheff.

In May 2019 he left Los Angeles and moved back to the Michigan suburbs, where he built his gym and streaming studio. In his 2020 house tour he called it the home where he would "raise my family". He has also spent winters in Florida.

What controller does NickMercs use?

He has played on SCUF controllers for most of his career and has had his own MFAM-branded SCUF models. Setup trackers list a SCUF Reflex MFAM Edition as his current pad. Like most pros, he uses the back paddles so he never has to take his thumbs off the sticks.

NickMercs' net worth

There is no verified figure for his wealth. Celebrity Net Worth estimates it at about $12 million. That is an outside estimate, not a confirmed number, and it doesn't account for taxes, spending or investments.

His earnings are better documented. Forbes estimated $15 million in 2022, including about $2.7 million from brand deals, and $13 million in its 2025 Top Creators list. On top of that came the reported $10 million Kick contract, his FaZe co-ownership and his share of MFAM merchandise.

Frequently asked questions

How old is NickMercs?

NickMercs was born on 21 November 1990, so he is 35 years old (as of October 2026).

What is NickMercs' real name?

His real name is Nick Kolcheff (Nicholas Kolcheff).

Who is NickMercs' wife?

He has been married since October 2020. His wife stays out of the spotlight and is known to fans by his nickname for her, "Emumita Bonita" or "Emu". They have a son, Niko, born in April 2023.

How tall is NickMercs?

He has never officially confirmed his height. Fan and wiki sites usually list him at about 5 ft 11 in (180 cm), but treat that as unverified.

Is NickMercs still in FaZe Clan?

No. He announced on 10 January 2025 that he had left FaZe Clan after more than five years as a member and co-owner, and said there were no issues between them.

Where does NickMercs live?

He has lived in the Michigan suburbs since moving back from Los Angeles in May 2019, and has spent winters in Florida. He has never shared an exact location, and we won't speculate.

What controller does NickMercs use?

A SCUF controller. Setup trackers list the SCUF Reflex MFAM Edition, and he has used SCUF pads with back paddles for most of his career.

How much is NickMercs worth?

Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at about $12 million (2026). It's an unconfirmed estimate. Forbes estimated his earnings at $13 million in 2025 alone.

Does NickMercs still stream on Kick?

His Kick deal ended in November 2024 and he now streams mainly on Twitch. His Kick channel still exists, with about 260,000 followers.

Sources and further reading

• The Verge: How Nick 'Nickmercs' Kolcheff battled his way to the top of Twitch (April 2021)
• Forbes: Kick signs Nickmercs to $10 million deal (October 2023)
• Dexerto: NICKMERCS returns to Twitch as Kick deal expires (November 2024)
• Dexerto: NICKMERCS leaves FaZe Clan after five years (January 2025)
• Dexerto: NICKMERCS addresses his Twitch ban (July 2024)
• Metro: Nickmercs expecting first baby (September 2022)
• Dexerto: NICKMERCS house tour (August 2020)
• Dot Esports: Where Nickmercs is now (2026 update)

Written by

Jessica Thompson

As a dedicated gaming journalist with over five years of experience, I've immersed myself in the ever-evolving world of video games. Currently, I contribute to Gamerbolt.com and PS6news.com, where I cover the latest in gaming news, in-depth game reviews, and industry trends. At Gamerbolt.com, I've had the privilege of shaping content strategies, writing comprehensive articles, and engaging with a passionate community of gamers. My role involves not only crafting engaging narratives but also staying ahead of the curve with the latest gaming innovations and upcoming titles.