Richest Nigerian actress, Genevieve Nnaji
Much has been said about Nollywood female stars who are considered to be the richest.
Maggie’s Blogthis week comes up with the current standing of these actresses as at August 16, 2021, after an indepth analysis based on their prevailing artistes fees, investments, liquid and fixed assets, as well as earnings from other sources of income outside acting.
The dollar is calculated by the current exchange rate to Naira at the open market.
This is how they stand, from bottom to top:
10. CHIOMA CHUKWUKA $3.5M
This 41 years old actress from Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, started her acting career with her debut in the movie “The Apple” in 2000.
Married to Mr. Franklin Apotha, she announced the launch of a capacity-building platform called “Masterclass with Chioma”, where aspiring talents, especially actors, are taught by seasoned filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and other industry professionals on what it takes to make it in film, TV, and theatre.
She became the brand ambassador for Erisco Foods in November 2018 and has also served as a brand ambassador for a number of Nigerian and international commercial brands, including Globacom Nigeria, Omo Detergent and Harpic Cleaner.
Her net worth currently stands at 3.5 million USD, an equivalent of N1.75 billion.
9. INI EDO $ 4.9M
Ini Edo, an Ibibio from Akwa Ibom State started her acting career in 2003.Her breakthrough however came in 2004 when she acted in “World Apart”.
Born 39 years ago, the special assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Culture and Tourism has achieved several corporate endorsements.
She was GLO brand ambassador for ten years from 2006 to 2016.
In 2010 she was named the brand ambassador of Noble Hair.
She is brand ambassador of Slim Tea Nigeria and in 2019, she was signed as an ambassador for the @MrTaxi_NG brand.
Her current net worth is 4.9 million USD.
8. UCHE JOMBO $5.2M
Uche Jombo born in Abriba, Abia State ventured into the Nigerian movie industry in 1999 in the movie “Visa to Hell” produced by Fidelis Duker.
The 41 years old actress who is married to an American by name Kenney Rodriguez with a son Matthew between them, hasover 200 Nollywood films acting credit to her name.
In 2008, she started executive production of her own films through her Uche Jombo Studios Production Company where she produces and directs movies.
She was among some celebrities to launch GrandLux Cafe located in Lekki, Lagos on November 30, 2018.
Uche Jombo’s net worth stands at $5.2 million currently.
7. REGINA DANIELS $5.8M
Twenty years old mother of one and wife of billionaire Ned Nwoko, 60, Regina Daniels
started acting in movies at the age of seven; with her mother, Rita Daniels, also an actress.
In January 2019, the pretty actress from Asaba, Delta State, was appointed Atiku Abubakar’s Youth Campaign Coordinator and later in February 2020, she launched a magazine named after her at a hotel in Abuja.
She has grown to become a movie producer, with the full support of her husband.
Regina Daniels’ net worth currently stands at 5.8 million US dollars.
6. IBINABO FIBERESIMA $6.1M
Born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, Ibinabo Fiberesima is 50 years of age.
The actress cum model hails from Rivers State.
As a model, in 1992, she participated in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant for the first time, where she was placed as the second runner-up. In 1997, she emerged first runner-up of Miss Nigeria before she went on to be crowned winner of Miss Wonderful that same year. She was also second runner-up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1998.
A former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and an event manager, her current net worth is $6.1 million.
5. OMOTOLA JALADE-EKEINDE $7.2M
Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies.
Fondly called Omosexy by colleagues and friends, the 43 years old mother of four and wife of a pilot, Matthew Ekeinde, Is an indigene of Ondo State.
In the year 2013, she was honoured in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Kate Middleton.
In the same year, Omotola Jalade made a brief appearance on VH1’s scripted series, “Hit the Floor”.
On November 2, 2013, she spoke at the 2013 edition of the WISE-Summit, held in Doha, Qatar.
In the year 2014, this screen diva was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to Nigerian cinema.
Cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2013, Omotola owns a state-of-the-art movie production studio in Lekki, a highbrow part of Lagos.
Her current net worth is 7.2 million USD.
4. RITA DOMINIC $7.6M
Apart from acting, Rita Dominic is a movie producer, model, television personality, investor, a philanthropist and co-founder of the Audrey Silva Company.
She hails from Aboh Mbaise in Imo State and has been regarded as one of the most industrious and highest paid actresses in Nigeria.
The actress who has starred in over 100 Nollywood productions is currently a GLO Ambassador and the CEO of Rita Dominic Productions.
Her current net worth stands at $7.6 million.
3. FUNKE AKINDELE $8M
Born on August 24, 1977 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Funke Akindele’s mother is a medical doctor while her father is a retired school principal.
She came into the limelight after starring in popular United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom “I Need to Know”, which ran from 1998 to 2002.
She is the CEO of Scene One Film Production Company.
She made her directorial debut in 2019 political drama film “Your Excellency”.
Her movie “Omo Ghetto” now holds the record of becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time in Nigeria.
According to a statement released by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), in January 2021, the movie has grossed N468,036,300 after maintaining its number one spot for three consecutive weeks.
The mother of twin boys has endorsement deals such as her being signed as an Ambassador to Dettol. She is also an ambassador to Irokotv.
In 2018, Funke was signed as brand ambassador for Keystone Bank while in November 2019, she signed an endorsement deal with Waw Nigeria, a company that manufactures detergent and bar soaps.
Her current net worth is $8 million.
2. MERCY JOHNSON $8.5M
Born Mercy Johnson Ozioma 37 years ago to a naval officer father from Kogi State, right after her secondary education, she auditioned for a role in “The Maid” and subsequently acted in other movies such as “Hustlers”, “Baby Oku in America”, “War in the Palace”, among other flicks.
In December 2011, the mother of four was listed as Google’s most searched Nigerian celebrity, a position she also held in 2012.
She is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Kogi State Governor on Entertainment, arts and culture. This post took effect from April 1, 2017.
She made her debut as film producer with “The Legend of Inikpi”.
Mercy Johnson Okojie has acted in more than 100 movies since joining the industry and continues to work as a producer, director and actress.
In October 2019, the ebony-skinned signed an endorsement deal with Chi Limited’s Prime brand –Hollandia Evap Milk. She also became a brand ambassador for Pennek Nigeria Limited, a real estate investment company based in Lagos.
Her current net worth is $8.5 million.
1. GENEVIEVE NNAJI $10M
Genevieve Nnaji started her acting career as a child actor in the then popular television soap opera, “Ripples”, produced and directed by Zeb Ejiro, at the age of 8.
In 1998, she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “Most Wanted”. Her subsequent movies include the “Last Party”, “Mark of the Beast”, and “Ijele”. In 2010, she starred in the award-winning film “Ijé: The Journey”.
In the year 2015, the 42 years old movie star from Mbaise, Imo State, produced her first movie called “Road to Yesterday”.
In 2011, she was honoured as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government for her contributions to Nollywood.
Her directorial debut movie, “Lionheart”, is the first Netflix Original from Nigeria, and first Nigerian submission for the Oscars. The movie was disqualified for having most of the dialogue in English.
Nnaji who claims to be a feminist has featured in several commercials, including Pronto (beverage) and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal.
In 2008, the single mother of one daughter launched the clothing line “St. Genevieve”, which donates its proceeds to charity. In May 2010, she was appointed to be the official “Face of MUD” in Nigeria.
The widely acclaimed Nigeria’s Julia Roberts remains the richest Nollywood actress with a net worth of $10 million.
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