Nollywood is an AKA (As know as) or a term used to describe the Nigerian movie industry. The origin of the term Nollywood was minted by Norimitsu Onishi a journalist at the New York Times in the year 2002 when the journalist recognized film-making activities in Lagos, Nigeria.
The term undeniably reflects two of the most famous regions of cinema production: USA Hollywood, and Bollywood in India.
Millions of Nigerians enjoy great movies packed with educational stories and pure authentic entertainment produced by the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood).
In recent times most of the Nollywood movies can even be found on Netflix, giving the Nollywood global access and audience. No wonder Nollywood actors are paid a lot of money. In this article, I am going to indulge and share with you the Top 10 richest Nollywood Actors.
16. Yul Edochie – $1.4 Million
Yul Edochie was born on January 7, 1982 (now 38 years old), Lagos, Nigeria. Yul is a Nollywood actor, named after famous Russian character Yul Brynner. He hails from Anambra state Nigeria and he is a son of popular Nollywood actor Pete Edochie. He was raised both in Lagos and Enugu. The last of 6 children. You will be interested to know that Yul got married at the age of 22
15. Kanayo O Kanayo – $2.5 million
His real name Anayo Modestus Onyekwere.  The actor was born on March 1, 1962, in Mbaise, Imo State in Nigeria. In 1992, Kanayo made his first movie appearance in a movie titled; Living in Bondage. In the year 2006, Kanayo O Kanayo as he is popularly referred to won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
14. Emeka Ike – Net Worth – $3 Million.
Emeka Ike was born on March 22, 1967, in Lagos State, Nigeria.  He is a person of the greatest sought-after Nollywood actors famous for his roles as the classic lover boy in most Nollywood films. He has also been branded as one of Nollywood’s ‘Bad boys’ as a result of playing roles in films where he gets physical and violates women
13. Olu Jacobs – $3.5 million
Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs was born on July 11, 1942, in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is professionally known as Olu Jacobs so far as the Nollywood industry is concerned. He has starred in numerous British television series and international movies
12. Chinedu Ikedieze – $3.5 million
Chinedu Ikedieze is a Nigerian actor popularly known as Akin. He is best known for playing with Osita Iheme. Many people including me thought they were blood brothers.
They mostly played together in most films after their breakthrough in the film Aki na Ukwa. In 2002, Ikedieze got the Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Movie Academy Awards
11. O.C. Ukeje – $3.7 million
Okechukwu Ukeje, born on July 15, 1981 (age 38 years), Lagos, Nigeria. He is popularly known as OC Ukeje a Nollywood actor, model, and artist. He came into influence after prevailing at the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality program.
10. Pete Edochie – $3.8 million
Chief Pete Edochie was born on March 7, 1947, in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. He hails from the Igbo ethnic group an indigene of Anambra State. Chief Pete Edochie, is a popular respected Nollywood actor.
Chief Edochie is considered as one of Africa’s most talented actors and he has been honored with an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy.
He came into influence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all-time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart.
9. Nkem Owoh – $3.8 million
Nkem Owoh is a Nollywood actor and comedian born on February 7, 1958 (currently 62 years), Udi, Nigeria.
In 2008 he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He came into influence in the screenplay of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart that was aired on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
8. John Okafor – $4.2 million
John Okafor was born on 17 October 1961. He is commonly referred to as Mr. Ibu across Africa. Mr. Ibu is a Nollywood actor and comedian. Okafor is reflected to be one of Nollywood’s most gifted comic actors.
His comical acting is often described by stupidity, amusing, silliness and a sharp detachment from the truth. According to him, he adopted the name from his grandfather whom he says was his mentor and inspiration for doing comedy
7. Ramsey Nouah – $4.5 millio
Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Junior popularly known as Ramsey Nouah was on 19 December 1970 in Edo, Nigeria. Ramsey Nouah can easily be described as one of the most familiar faces in the Nollywood movie industry known for playing lovers’ characters.
He is also a movie director. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010. He made his directorial debut with the film Living in Bondage: Breaking Free in 2019.
6. Mike Ezuruonye – $4.7 million
Mike Ezuruonye is one of the most handsome Nollywood movie star born on September 20, 1982, in Lagos State, Nigeria. He is of an Igbo tribe in Uzoakoli in Abia state, Nigeria. He is the eldest son of four siblings.
We can say that Mike made the right judgment when he resigned from his bank job and went into acting full time. His roles in various Nollywood films have brought him prestigious awards, fame and wealth.
5. Segun Arinze – $5.1 million
Segun Arinze was born in Onitsha, Anambra State on September 24, 1965, to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother. He is a lineage of Badagry, Lagos State in Nigeria. Â He started his acting profession in Ilorin.
Aside from that, Segun also is an actor coach and currently works with prestigious African international movie festivals passing his experience on to the next generation of actors.
4. Chidi Mokeme – $7 million
Chidi Mokeme was born on March 17, 1972. He is a famous Nollywood actor, producer, director, model, TV host, entrepreneur, investor, and television character.
He always highlights in action-thriller films. He has been considered as one of the highest-paid Nollywood actors and also one of the richest actors in Nigeria.
3. Desmond Elliot – $10 million
Desmond Elliot was born on February 4, 1974, in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a Nollywood actor, director, and politician who has been featured in over 200 movies and a number of television programs and soap operas.
2. Richard Mofe-Damijo – $15 million
Richard Eyimofe Evans Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD. He was born on 6th July 1961 in Aladja, Nigeria.
He is a very popular and well known Nollywood star and former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State. He is very talented and also an interesting character to watch out. In 2005 he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
1. Jim Iyke – $30 million
James Ikechukwu Esomugha is a Nollywood actor and one of the biggest stars in the Nigerian movie industry.
He is from the Ogwugwu community in Enugu Agidi town located in Anambra State. He is the only son in a family of eight children. James Ikechukwu Esomugha was born on was born September 25, 1976, in Libreville, Gabon. He is popularly known as Jim Iyke.
