An Actor is a person who interprets a character or role in a script to assume the life of that character on a stage play, movie, radio, or Television. The actor portrays a character using gestures, voice, and reactions and tells meaningful stories to inform, educate, and entertain their audience. Actors are well paid for their job. This article covers the richest actors in Nigeria.
If you love watching films, listening to radio plays, or going to the theatre, then this article is yours. In Nigeria, Nollywood actors have captivated the International community, and Nigerian movies are shown all over the world. According to an International Journalist Norimitsu Onishi, Bollywood is the most prominent film making industry and believe it or not, rate Nigeria’s Nollywood as the second largest movie Industry in the world, when you consider its film output.
We have researched and compile this list of the top ten richest actors in Nigeria. We will show you their achievements and their net worth. Let us meet the ten male actors that make the Nigerian film industry unique, entertaining, and sought after by the world.
Richest actors in Nigeria
Here are the richest actors in Nigeria:
1. Jim Iyke
- Net worth: $30 Million
James Ikechukwu Esomugha, also known as Jim Iyke, is the richest actor in Nigeria.
He started acting in 2001 and has accomplished quite a lot. Jim has appeared in over 150 movies. He acted lead role in the American Driver in 2017 and has won many awards. Jim Iyke gives back to society and has a foundation for children with social disabilities.
Furthermore, Jim is a big-time actor in Nollywood that is also skilled in business. He owns a fashion label called Untamed closet, plus a Table water bottling business whose product is called Burgeon Table water. His net worth is about $30 million.
2. Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD)
- Net worth: $15 Million
Richard Eyimofe Damijo was born on 6 July 1961 in Delta state.
He attended the University of Benin and had his first degree in Theater Arts. This veteran actor got a second degree by attending the University of Lagos. He graduated in 2004 and passed Law school in 2006.
He began his acting career in the 1980s. RMD has appeared in many first-class movies. Also, he does voice over for television and radio commercials and has the endorsements of blue-chip companies.
Richard won the Best Actor award in 2015 at the maiden edition of the African Movie Academy Awards. This actor popularly called RMD played a major role in the now rested Ripples soap opera on Television.
He is a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State. His net worth is estimated at $15 million.
3. Desmond Elliot
- Net worth: $10 Million
This Nollywood Actor and Politician is a top actor and ranks at number 3 in this list of the richest actors in Nigeria. Desmond has acted in more than 200 movies, won many awards, and directed many movies himself.
He is adored by fans, no wonder he decided to test his popularity by joining politics in 2014. He won the seat in the General election held in 2015 to represent and serve the Surulere Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
This award-winning movie actor has made a lot of money for acting in many movies, from politics and businesses. His net worth is about $10 million.
4. Chidi Mokeme
- Net worth: 8.0 Million
Our next star Chidi Mokeme is number 4 in this compilation of rich actors. He started acting in 1995. Apart from acting, he is also a TV host and a model. He has appeared in the movies titled 76 and The Seed, amongst other movies.
He became more popular when he finished hosting two seasons of a reality TV show known as the Guilder Ultimate Search. This multi-talented actor’s roles and business interest have brought him fame and wealth, and his net worth stands at nearly $8 million.
5. Segun Arinze
- Net worth: $5.1 M
This multi-talented actor Segun Arinze ranks at number 5 on this list of the richest actors in Nigeria. He is not only an actor but also a singer, producer, scriptwriter, and director. He also performs voice over for radio and television commercials. Segun Arinze was the lead actor in the film titled Black Arrow.
He played in the widely successful Soap Opera Ripples in the 1990s, and after then he became a regular face on movies as the “Bad Boy” of Nollywood. His acting skill as bad boy has endeared him to many movie fans. As one of the top actors, his net worth is about $5.1 million.
6. Mike Ezurounye
- Net worth: $4.7 Million
This unassuming and handsome actor ranks at number 6 on our list. He was born on 21 September 1982, in Lagos and studied Accounting in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Mike, who was once a banker, began acting with a role in Broken Marriage. After this opener, he became a regular face in numerous movies.
Some of his films include Calabash part 1 & 2 in 2014 and The Duplex in 2015. He has won many awards like Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2008 and 2009, respectively, at the Africa Movie and Academy Awards.
He has endorsement with a big brand in the telecommunications Industry. His net worth is about $4.7 million.
7. Ramsey Nouah
Net worth: $4.5 Million
Ramsey Nouah is one of the richest actors in Nigeria and ranks at number 7 on this list. He began acting in 1993 and has captivated the hearts of many ladies with his romantic roles.
His creativity and skills earn him romantic roles in many movies he has acted in. He acted in a series titled Fortunes. This Nollywood proverbial “Mr. Lover boy” is loved and respected by both producers and movie lovers.
As his roles in different movies increased and brought him fame, so has his bank account swelled. His projected net worth is $4.5 million.
8. John Okafor
- Net worth: $4.2 Million
John Okafor is another comical character that has find his way into the hearts of movie viewers all over the country, and he is ranked 8 in this article. He well known for acting like a clown in several movies, yet the roles make him famous and rich.
His most popular movie was titled Mr. Ibu, where he played the leading role as Mr. Ibu. Since then, he has acted in several movies and won the heart of his audience and swelled his bank account.
He has endorsements with leading brands in the country His net worth is estimated to be $4.2 million.
9. Nkem Owoh
- Net worth: $3.9 Million
Nkem Owoh ranks at number 9 in this list of the richest actors in Nigeria. This actor brings laughter to many faces as he acts in comical roles.
He has been acting since the 1980s. Nkem was part of the cast of “Things fall Apart. “ He also appeared in a popular Comedy aired on television in the ’80s called the “New Masquerade.”
This Comical character has found his way into many movies, some of which include A fool at 40, Ghana Must Go, and Osuofia in London. His comical role in different movies has made him rich, and his net worth is about $3.9 million.
10. Pete Edochie
- Net worth: $3.8 Million
This eminent and award-winning veteran actor Pet Edochie ranks as the number ten in this list. He was born in 1947 in Enugu and studied at the School of Journalism and Television in England.
This thespian actor was once a broadcaster and working in the Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting service until he ventured into the acting world in the early 1980s and conquered it.
He got a leading role in a film based on the adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s book “Things Fall Apart” created by The NTA in the ’80s, where he played Okonkwo. His performance in this film gave him a chance to act in diverse roles in hundreds of Movies like Rituals in 1998 and Foreigners God in 2019.
Pete Edochie’s acting career has given him success, fame, and wealth, and he has won numerous awards. In 2003, the Olusegun Obasanjo government conferred on him the Member of the Order of the Niger – MON. His estimated net worth is $3.8 million.
Conclusion
This post is a list of the richest actors in Nigeria, giving you their net worth and accomplishments in their acting career. Surely you could replicate their achievements if you want. But you must be ready to work hard at your craft and build good relationships.
Also read: How to become a Nollywood Actor or Actress
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