The movie industry in Nigeria has grown over the last couple of decades into a lucrative sector of the economy. As a result, many of the popular figures in the industry have grown along with the industry in term of networth.
In this post, we take a look at the richest actors in the country and their networth.
1. Desmond Elliot
Desmond Elliot was born Desmond Oluwashola Elliot on the 4th of February 1974.
He is a Nigerian actor, director, and politician who has starred in over two hundred films and a number of television shows and soap operas.
He is one of the highest paid actors in Nollywood and his recent sojourn into politics has further added to his net worth. The actor is said to be worth an estimated $10 million.
He was elected as a lawmaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, in the 11 April 2015 Nigerian General Elections.
He graduated from Lagos State University where he studied Economics. Elliot was influenced by a friend to become an actor. He started playing roles in soap operas like Everyday People, One Too Much and Saints and Sinners.
He is one of Nollywood’s leading actors, having appeared in over two hundred films including Men Who Cheat, Yahoo Millionaire and Atlanta. In 2008 Elliot co-produced and co-directed the movie “Reloaded” which received 3 nominations at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2009.
In 2009 and 2010, Elliot was nominated for the Best Actor category at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards. Also in 2010, Elliot has been competing to become the ambassador for the Face of Hope Project, a “volunteer-based non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization established to give hope to the hopeless”, in which he will work toward fixing “child illiteracy in Nigeria and Africa at large” if he is the victor.
2. Richard Mofe-Damijo
Popularly known as RMD, Richard Mofe Damijo is one of the richest actors in the country and he is said to be worth an estimated $7 million
In 2012, he was said to have acquired a palatial mansion in Asaba which was worth N250 million.
RMD was born 6 July 1961. He was born in Aladja community of Udu Kingdom, near Warri, Delta State. He attended Midwest College, Warri and Anglican Grammar School where he was a member of the Drama Club.
The actor studied Theatre Arts at the University of Benin. Many years later, he studied law at the University of Lagos where he graduated in 2004.
He was the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State.
In 2005, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
The actor began his acting career in the late 80’s when he featured in the television soap opera called Ripples. Before then, he had worked briefly with the Concord Newspapers and Metro Magazine as a reporter.
RMD is currently married to Jumobi Adegbesan. He was previously married to May Ellen Ezekiel who died in 1996. He has 4 children, 2 with his current wife and 2 from his previous marriage.
Some of the popular movies he has featured in include Out of Bounds, Hostages, Scores to Settle, Diamond Ring, Freedom, When God Says Yes, 30 Days in Atlanta, Dinner , The Wedding Party, The Grudge, 10 days in sun city and The Wedding Party 2
3. Jim Iyke
Jim Iyke was born James Ikechukwu Esomugha. He is one of the popular actors in Nollywood and he is worth well over $5 million.
Apart from his involvement in entertainment, he is also a businessman as a result; he has been able to grow his net worth exponentially over the years.
The actor was born on September 25, 1976 in Libreville, Gabon although his parents hail from Anambra State. He is the only boy in a family of eight children.
Jim Iyke began acting career in 2001 and at some point; he became one of the highest paid actors in Nollywood.
He has enjoyed several endorsement deals over the last few years. He was a one time Glo ambassador. In 2018, he signed a deal with Henry Montego Homes as a brand ambassador.
The actor has featured in over 200 movies till date. He has a movie production company, Untamed Productions and a music label, Untamed Records. He produced a first album, titled “Who Am I?” featuring some of Nigeria’s top musicians such as TuFace Idibia, and Sound Sultan.
Jim Iyke is also a philanthropist and he is the founder of Jim lyke Foundation for Children with Special Disabilities.
4. Ramsey Nouah
Born Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr, Ramsey Nouah is another popular actor.
He was born on the 19th of December 1970. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010.
Nouah was born in Edo State to an Israeli father and a Yoruba mother who hails from Owo, Ondo State. He grew up in Surulere, Lagos, where he attended Atara Primary School and Community Grammar School. He obtained a diploma in mass communications at the University of Lagos, after which he pursued a career in acting.
Nouah began his acting career when he starred in the Nigerian TV soap opera Fortunes. He won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the Best Picture award winning film The Figurine.
Apart from acting, Nouah also earns money from endorsement deals. He recently signed a juicy deal with Western Lotto as a brand ambassador for the betting company. He has also endorsed brands like Glo and in the past. Ramsey Nouah is currently worth an estimated $4.5 million
Some of his most notable movies include Silent Night, Church Business, Across the Niger, Reloaded (2009 film), Guilty Pleasures (2009 film), Iru Oka, 30 Days in Atlanta, Gbomo Gbomo Express, and ’76.
5. John Okafor
John Okafor was born on the 17th of October 1961. John Okafor was born and raised in Enugu in the southeastern part of Nigeria and had a rough childhood due to his family’s poverty. Before he was an actor he worked as a firewood seller, a hairdresser and a meat butcher.
He is a popular Nollywood actor and comedian and he is also known as Mr. Ibu. He is said to be one of the most talented comic actors. His humorous acting is often characterized by stupidity, hilarious imbecility and a sharp disconnection from reality.
He is currently worth an estimated $4.2 million.
Some of his popular movies include Mr.Ibu (2004), Mr.Ibu in London (2004), Police Recruit (2003), 9 Wives (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Keziah (2007).
Prior to his acting career, Mr Ibu used to be a boxer, but he had to call it quits with boxing when his face was battered in championship fight by a Delta boy. The actor disclosed that he couldn’t recognize his face for many days after the contest.
Mr Ibu is said to be worth an estimated $4.2 million. In January 2018, Mr Ibu disclosed that his family had being robbed while he was away. According to the actor, the robbery gang stormed his Festac home and took valuables and cash worth over N14 million.
6. Nkem Owoh
Popularly called Osuofia, Nkem Owoh is a notable Nigerian actor and comedian. He is best known for his role in the movie, ‘Osuofia.’ In 2008 he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Owoh was born in Enugu State, Nigeria where he had his primary and secondary school. He studied Engineering at the University of Ilorin and it was during his time at the university that he began acting in various television and film productions.
The actor has featured in over 200 movies since he began acting. He has also attracted endorsement deals from the likes of MTN Nigeria.
Owoh is worth an estimated $4 million. His wealth has made him a target of kidnappers and hoodlums. In 2009 Owoh was kidnapped in eastern Nigeria and the abductors demanded N15 million ransom. The actor was later released and his family disclosed that they had paid N1.4 million as ransom to the abductor.
Also in 2014, Owoh was hospitalised after being attacked by hoodlums. Reports revealed that it was during a movie shoot in Enugu that the incident happened.
Owoh was said to have been attacked by hoodlums when these thugs stormed the movie set and demanded some money.
The refusal of the crew to concede to their demands is what led to the attack. Subsequently, the actor was badly injured but he was rushed to the hospital on time and he has since recovered.
7. Chinedu Ikedieze
Chinedu Ikedieze became popular in 2002 when he featured in the movie, Aki na Ukwa alongside Osita Iheme popularly called Pawpaw. He has starred in over 200 movies since he began acting in 2002. Some of his most popular movies include Aki na Ukwa, World Apart, Jardons, Spanner, Secret Adventure, The Heroes, Soldier Ants and Fifth.
The actor revealed that he discovered his passion for acting when he joined the Dramatic Society in secondary school but he didn’t break into mainstream acting until after his tertiary education at the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu.
It was his role as Aki in the 2002 movie, Aki and Pawpaw that shot him into prominence.
In 2013, Aki co-produced a Hollywood-Nollywood movie, “Take the Spotlight” which featured some Hollywood celebrities like Lynn Whitfield and Glenn Morshower and was shot in Dallas, USA.
The actor has bagged several awards over the years; some of these include the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Africa Movie Awards.
Aki was also conferred with the MFR (Member Order of the Federal Republic) by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebere Jonathan in 2010.
Currently, Chinedu is worth an estimated $3.5 million. Interestingly, he was said to have been paid N500 for his first ever movie
The actor is happily married to Nneoma Ikedieze, an accomplished fashion designer and the owner of Nikiz Fashions.
8. Osita Iheme (Pawpaw)
Popularly known as Pawpaw, Osita Iheme is the sidekick of Chinedu Ikedieze. He is also one of the richest actors in the country. He is said to be worth over $3 million
Osita was born on the 20th February, 1982 into a family of five children and hails from Mbaitoli in Imo State. Although, he was born and bred in Abia State, he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Lagos State University.
Osita is also the founder of Inspired Movement Africa which is focused on inspiring, motivating and stimulating the minds of young Nigerians and Africans.
9. Mike Ezuruonye
Mike Ezuruonye is a Nigerian actor. He was born in Uzoakoli in Abia State Nigeria. He was born on September 20, 1982 in Lagos.
The actor worked as a banker prior to his move into Nollywood. He has featured in several Nollywood movies. He received two nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2008, 2009 and a nomination for Best actor in Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
He is currently worth an estimated $3 million
Some of the movies he has featured in include
- Beyond Reason
- Broken Marriage
- Critical Decision
- Desire (2008)
- Endless Passion (2005)
- Keep Me Alive (2008)
- Occultic Kingdom
- Ropes of Fate (2010)
- The Duplex (2015)
- Unforeseen (2005)
- Unforgivable (2014)
10. Nonso Diobi
Nonso Diobi is another notable and wealthy actor in Nollywood. He is said to be worth over $1 million. The actor was said to have acquired a property in the luxurious Banana Island in Ikoyi, Lagos
He was born on the 17th of July 1976. He studied Theatre Art at the University of Nigeria, it was while he was studying at the University that he made his debut on-screen appearance in the 2001 movie titled, ‘Border Line’.
The actor hails from Njikoka in Enugu State, Nigeria. He has starred in over 150 films.
Some of his popular movies include Overseas, The Last 3 Digits, Makers of Justice, Palace Slave, Too Much, Beyond Desire , My Last Ambition, Sexy Girls, Chasing the Dream, Last True Sacrifice, Life Incidence, Naked Wrestler, Offensive Relationship, Temple of Justice, Bafana Bafana and many others.
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The title should have been “10 richest Igbo actors in Nigeria”