Sixteen competitors will travel the world to fly their drones on different courses, but only one will walk away with the jackpot. All sorts of courses are planned, from abandoned shopping malls to huge professional sports stadiums, where racers will fly drones up and around obstacles.

These aren't cheapo drones picked up in toy stores, either. Models cost between $500 and $1,000 and require expert hand-eye coordination and expert depth perception, Nicholas Horbaczewski, CEO of the Drone Racing League, told CNBC.

Pilots fly the drones wearing headsets that allow them to see in a first-person perspective, and most are in their mid-20s.