Lifestyle
Top 10 richest pastors in Nigeria, source of wealth and net worth
Gone are the days when Nigerian pastors are viewed as being poor and only dependent on church offerings and tithes. Today, there are lots of rich pastors in the country with investments in different businesses including the founding of private schools.
Here is a compiled list of the richest pastors in Nigeria, their net worth and presumed source of wealth;
10. Pastor Chris Okotie ($10m) [64-yr-old as at 2022]
Pastor Chris Okotie, a former musician with the hit single “Show Me Your Backside” is the pastor and founder of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal church in Lagos, a Southwestern state in Nigeria.
Pastor Chris Okotie started the church in February 1987.
Meanwhile, he graduated with a law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1984.
Net worth
Forbes in 2011 estimated his net worth to be around $3 million -$10 million.
Luxury
He gifted himself a Rolls Royce Phantom on the occasion of his 27th year anniversary in the ministry.
Source of Wealth
Okotie’s wealth is from his ministry and personal businesses.
He is a writer who has authored many books including;
- Search of the Game Changers
- The Last Outcast
- Counting the cost of Insecurity
- State Policies and Prophetic Solutions
Politics
Okotie first ran for Presidency in 2003 on the platform of the Justice Party (JP), led by Ralph Obiorah after he was schemed out of the National Democratic Party (NDP) primaries elections; he lost the general election to Olusegun Obasanjo in the May 2003 elections.
He ran again in 2007 on the platform of a party he founded, the Fresh Democratic party, FRESH and lost to the late Umaru Yar’Adua in the May 2007 elections.
Then in 2011, he ran and lost to President Goodluck Jonathan.
9. Apostle John Suleman ($10.5m) [51-yr-old as at 2022]
Apostle Johnson Suleman is a Nigerian televangelist and the senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, a church with its headquarters in Auchi, Edo State.
After working as an assistant pastor in the Armor of God Church in Lagos from 1998, he started Omega Fire Ministries in 2004.
Net worth
Some online reports estimated his wealth at about $10.5 million but this cannot be independently verified.
Luxury
Apostle Selman owns three private jets and various luxurious cars. His third jet was purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic which caused a sharp decline in the world economy.
Source of Wealth
Aside from wealth presumed from his ministry, Apostle Suleman, has investments in banking, oil and gas, real estate, and airline booking business.
8. Bishop Ayodele Oritsejafor ($15m)
Ayodele Joseph Oritsegbubemi Oritsejafor, known as Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, is the founding and Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, located in Warri, Nigeria.
He became the national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria on 7 February 2005, a position he held for five years.
Net worth
He is estimated to be worth $15 million but this cannot be independently verified.
Luxury
He owns a Bombardier Challenger 601 private jet worth $3.5 million. His car collections include Toyota LandCruiser and a Limousine.
Source of wealth
Bishop Oritsejafor has investments in real estate, banking, transportation and media.
7. Pastor Sam Adeyemi ($19m) [55-yr-old as at 2022]
Pastor Sam Adeyemi is the senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria. He started his church on the 18th of November, 1995 at the 4th floor of the Eko Chinese hotel on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Prior to starting his own ministry, he was a Pastor at the Rhema Chapel alongside his younger brother, Victor Adeyemi.
At Rhema Chapel, Pastor Sam served as Director of Pastoral Care and Minister in Charge before he was transferred to a branch in Lagos.
Net worth
He is estimated to be worth $19 million.
Luxury
In 2014, there are reports of disagreement between Sam Adeyemi and his Church leadership over the insistence of the G.O. to purchase a private jet so as to measure up to some of his colleagues that junket around in the flying toy.
It was reported that he was eyeing a JetHawker900XP, which goes for $20m or a GulfstreamG450, estimated to be $15m the same type owned by Bishop David Oyedepo.
He lives in a luxurious house in Lagos and owns a Mercedes-Benz S350 and Lexus LX 570.
Source of Wealth
Aside from wealth presumed to flow down to him from his church, he is an author with lots of books published and also has an Academy that trains people on leadership and how to discover their hidden potential.
6. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo ($20m) [70-yr-old as at 2022]
In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead.
Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom.
Net worth
In 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth to be around $6 million – $10 million; but today, some online reports claimed he has an approximate net worth of $20 million.
Luxury
Pastor Ashimolowo owns a private jet and fleet of automobiles. In 2017, he boasted to have given out two Hummer Jeeps and 35 other cars within 3 years.
Source of wealth
In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million. Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries.
5. Pastor Paul Eneche ($20 million)
Paul Eneche is the founder and senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Center, a church he founded in 1996.
He was formerly a practising Medical doctor before establishing the ministry.
Net worth
He is estimated by online reports to be worth $20 million.
Luxury
His car collection includes Lexus LX570, Mercedes SLR McLaren, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, and other expensive items.
Source of Wealth
He is an author, and singer and also owns a publishing house, and founded a Training Centre called Dunamis School of Ministry. Aside from that, he also founded two institutions including Destiny Academy and Destiny College.
4. Pastor David Ibiyeomie ($41m) [59-yr-old by October 21, 1962]
Pastor David Ibiyeomie is an author, televangelist and the founder/presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries with its headquartres located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
He started his Ministerial journey in 1995 Ibiyeomie when he enrolled into a full-time Bible School at the Word of Faith Bible Institute, an arm of David Oyedepo’s Ministry.
Ibiyeomie started Salvation Ministries on Sunday, April 13, 1997, with 34 persons in attendance. Currently, the church has over 1,000 satellites churches and more than
Net worth
His net worth is estimated at $41 million.
Luxury
He has a private jet and a fleet of cars. In 2021, he disclosed how Korede Komaiya bought him 12 cars in 12 months. Komaiya is the founder of The Master’s Place International Church.
Source of wealth
He is an author and also founded an institute, World of Life Bible Institute to train people interested in becoming ministers.
3. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye ($100m) [80-yr-old as at 2022]
General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a church headquartered in Lagos. The Lagos church has an average attendance of 100,000.
Adeboye aims to establish a church branch every five minutes in developing communities and five minutes drives in urban areas.
Net worth
He is estimated to be worth about $100 million but this cannot be independently verified.
Luxury
Pastor Adeboye owns a Gulfstream G550 private jet worth $65 million.
Source of wealth
He is the founder of Redeemers University, a private university established in 2005 and cited at Ede, Osun State.
The Redemption Camp at Mowe, Ogun state is an estate-like property opened in 1983 and houses the Church headquarters, schools, hospital, banks and more. Properties on the 2500 hectares of land are also sold to interested persons (notably church members).
2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome ($126m) [59-yr-old by December 7, 2022]
Christian Oyakhilome is the founder and president of LoveWorld Incorporated, popularly known as Christ Embassy, based in Lagos, Nigeria.
He’s the first pastor to own a Christ-based Television network from Africa.
His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians.
Net worth
Pastor Chris, in 2011 was estimated by Forbes to be worth $30 million – $50 million. Recent reports which cannot be independently verified estimated his net worth at about $126 million.
Luxury
His luxury includes several houses, expensive cars and private jets.
Source of wealth
He operates the Pastor Chris International School of Ministry, a spiritual school for ministers and pastors training; Loveworld Music and Arts Ministry, a training centre for Christ Embassy choirs; Loveworld Records, a record label with top gospel artistes like Frank Edwards and Sinach, among others.
Oyakhilome is the author of several books, including Rhapsody of Realities, distributed monthly in several countries. He is also the author of “Power of the Mind”.
1. Bishop David Oyedepo ($200m) [67-yr-old in September, 1954]
David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000 with processes ongoing to expand it to 100,000 seating capacity, named Ark auditorium, Canaanland.
Net worth
Forbes estimated his net worth at $150 million in 2011. Presently, his net worth is estimated at $200 million.
Luxury
Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States.
Source of wealth
He owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books. He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. All details cannot be independently verified by NewsWireNGR or its editorial team.
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