Nigeria is blessed with Men of God who are not just the powerful and richest pastors in Nigeria, but also in the world.
Their net worths are often questioned a lot with many people expecting them to live poor or comfortable enough with no thought of accumulating wealth. The truth is that being a pastor, clergy, or man of God in Nigeria does not mean one can not pursue other ambitions.
HOW DID NIGERIAN PASTORS MAKE THEIR MONEY
First, what does the bible have to say about riches? Ecclesiastes 5:19, “Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him the power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.”
Another verse in the Bible, Psalm 112:3 says, “Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever”.
It is no gainsaying that these pastors have sacrificed a lot and judging by what we have heard and read so far in the bible – when you work for God, he takes care of you. Therefore, there is no reason why these powerful men of God in Nigeria or any part of the world cannot wish for a luxury life or own a jet.
Although some pastors are less concerned about salvation, instead they focused on the business part which I am totally against. There is nothing wrong with members giving to the churches of God, but there are some pastors that will make one feel like failure to give is a sin despite their huge monthly salary, income and members’ gifts.
Despite what you may think, salaries and gifts are not the reason why they are so wealthy. In this new era of technological advancement, pastors have been able to highlight ways by which they can make money, which then served as their source of wealth.
Although some pastors specialized in putting a price tag on salvation, healings and miracles which are common with the new set of pastors springing up. Nonetheless, we are not here to open up on that but to show you how great God is, for pastors who did his biddings.
These pastors are even richer than most of the musicians that made the wealthiest musicians list. To clear your doubt, it is about time we list out the most richest pastors in Nigeria and you will be shocked to see what each of them holds.
WHO ARE THE TOP 10 RICHEST PASTORS IN NIGERIA NOW?
13. Apostle Johnson Suleman (Net worth: $1.5m – NGN 600m)
Apostle Johnson Suleman is one of the wealthiest men of God in Nigeria. He was born on 24 March 1971 in Benin, Edo state to a Muslim father and a Christian mother. Few days after he was born, some prophets from delta visited the parents and revealed that he was born to be a preacher in God’s vineyards.
While growing up, his parents had to separate because of the difference in religion. Being brought up as a Muslim led him to believe all Christians are unethical, no thanks to his father. It was later he realized that both religions have both bad and good.
In 1989, the pastor received his calling. He revealed that he slept on December 24th, 1989, and woke up the next two days. There was a vision of hell, heaven, and a voice claiming he was destined to become an instrument of God.
To cut the long story short, Apostle Suleman served the Lord as an assistant pastor in the Armor of God Church in Lagos from 1998, but in 2004, Omega Fire Ministries was founded of which he is the senior pastor and general overseer. Since then, the church has continued to grow and gradually springing up in all parts of Nigeria.
12. Pastor Sam Adeyemi (Net worth: $1.5m – NGN 600m)
Pastor Sam Adeyemi is one of the most influential and powerful men of God in Nigeria. The founder and Senior Pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria was born on the 3rd of February 1967 in Niger State, where he spent his first 10 years of his life, although he is a native of Odo-Ere, Yagba, Kogi State, Nigeria.
He got his tertiary education at Kwara State Polytechnic where he obtained Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering. He also proceeded to the University of Exeter for Leadership Studies and graduated with an MSc degree in 2011.
The journey to becoming a renowned man of God started at Rhema Chapel when he was the Director of Pastoral Care and Minister in Charge. He was later transferred to a branch in Lagos. On getting to Lagos, he felt like the ministry was not going as expected – therefore in 1994, he decided to seek the face of God with his wife through fasting and prayer.
In the same year, God answered him and gave him clear instructions. Pastor Sam Adeyemi is a remarkable pastor with a net worth of $1.5m.
11. Pastor Paul Adefarasin (Net worth: $2.9m – NGN 1.17B)
Pastor Paul Adefarasin was born on 25 January 1963 and got his primary and secondary educations in Lagos State. He later moved to the United States to study Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Miami. He also attended the International Bible Institute of London where he obtained a Diploma in Christian Ministry.
The man called, Pastor Paul Adefarasin is a great teacher of the word of God with over 20 motivational Christian mini-books and multimedia resources. He loves sweet rides and has been seen with different cars including the estimated 40 million naira Mercedes Benz G Wagon.
He is currently the minister, televangelist, and the senior pastor of the House on the Rock. Every year, the pastor also brings together Christian musicians from every part of the world to stun the audience with some great worship and praises sessions.
The gospel concert has already featured local and international artists such as Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Don Moen, Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassey, and Chioma Jesus. If you have not yet attended, you should go to the next one.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s net worth is currently $2.9m and when converted to naira, it is safe to call him one of the billionaire pastors in Nigeria, although just by a little edge.
10. Lazarus Muoka (Networth $3m ~ ₦1.2b)
Lazarus Muoka is also one of the powerful and richest men of God in Nigeria. Born into a catholic family in imo state and had his primary and secondary school education in the same state. He later moved to Lagos State where he worked for a company before gathering money to start his own business.
When he gave his life to Christ, he abandoned his business and instead focused on becoming a vessel to God. After years of working as a pastor, Lazarus Muoka received several messages from God in 1994 prompting him to start his own church. He eventually heeded the call and set up The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement.
The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement which started as just a small church is now one of the most popular churches in Nigeria. Their members are so passionate about spreading the message to the extent that they are never shied from putting on the church green costume with its boldly typed messages.
God is so good if you have enough but Pastor Lazarus Muoka has more than that and estimated to be a net worth of $3m.
9. Bishop Ayodele Oritsejafor (Net worth: $3m ~ ₦1.2b)
Papa Ayo Oritsejafor was born on November 10 in Lagos and remains one of the respected men of God in Nigeria. In 1972, he received his salvation during the evangelical crusade held at Sapele in Delta State. To know more about his religion, he enrolled at the All Nations For Christ Bible Institute, Benin City, Nigeria.
Papa ayo’s zeal for Christ further led him to Nigerian Baptist Seminary, Ogbomosho. He later went to study at Morris Cerullo’s School of Ministry (El Cortez) for further teachings. He revealed he got a vision, in the revelation he’s teaching multitude and a voice said to him, “this is what you are going to be doing the rest of your life”
This powerful vision then led to the establishment of the Word of Life Bible Church (WLBC) in November 1987. As it stands, Bishop Ayodele Oritsejafor net worth is $3m.
8. Bishop Mike Okonkwo (Networth: $3m ~ ₦1.2b)
Bishop Mike Okonkwo is one of the top ten richest pastors in Nigeria. A man known to have worn the same haircut for years has been in the God vineyard for more than 35 years.
Before he was called into the God’s vineyard, got his secondary education at Offa Grammar school and Mayflower Grammar school, Ikenne under Tai Solarin. He also schooled at Merchant of Life School in the East and that was the same school he eventually graduated.
While growing up, Bishop Mike Okonkwo made an effort to live a righteous life even when he was not yet a minister of God. His father who was an honest man also helped as regards that and also ensured he always attended church services. He served as a choir in the church.
Eventually, when he got that great call to start a church, his parents were not in support of it because they believed he had everything going well for him as a banker. Despite all that, he eventually followed the path God has shown to him.
Today he has an estimated net worth of $3m and also one of the respected men of God in Nigeria and abroad. He manages The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), a church with over 180 branches in Nigeria and ten countries across the globe.
7. David Ibiyeomie (Networth $8.5m – ₦3.4b)
There are no greatest and influential Nigerian Pastors without mentioning Pastor David Ibiyeomie. He came into this world on 21st of October, 1962 and had his primary education at Banham Primary School Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from 1969 to 1974.
He later proceeded to get his secondary school education at Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, Rivers State, Nigeria. Pastor Ibiyeomie did not stop there because of his love for education, he was later admitted into Rivers State University, Port Harcourt for a degree course in microbiology.
After completing his training at Bishop David Oyedepo’s Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI), he started house fellowship with his family in VI Lagos and later moved to Port Harcourt where he started fully as a minister, headed Salvation Ministries (Glorious Chapel) on April 13, 1997, with about twenty members in attendance.
In July 1997, the church acquired a large plot of land and as of 2017, they now have about 50,000 attendees every Sunday at its headquarters. With a net worth of $8.5m, one cant say he is not one of the blessed men of God in Nigeria.
6. Pastor Chris Okotie ($12m ~ NGN 4.8b)
Who is Pastor Chris Okotie? Only a few people will say he is not one of the most popular men of God in Nigeria. Pastor Chris Okotie was born on 16th of June 1958 in Ethiope East, Abraka, Delta State in Nigeria.
While growing up, he loved singing to the extent that he joined a Music Club in school. He attended secondary school at Edo College, Benin City, and also got a degree in law from the University of Nigeria at Nsukka. Although he abandoned his school for a while to pursue his musical career but got back again.
Whilst undergoing law school, he postponed his schooling again to begin his ministries. To know better about his new passion, Chris Okotie got admitted into Grace Fellowship Bible School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it was there he got a proper understanding of the words of God.
He has been a televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries in Lagos since February 1987. Pastor Chris Okotie net worth is estimated to be $12m which makes him one of the richest men of God in Nigeria.
5. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo (Networth: $20m ~ NGN 8b)
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo was born on 17th March 1952 to a Muslim family in Kaduna State, Nigeria. His father died during the Biafran war which led him to be looked up by guardian. As revealed by him, he did not have an easy ride as a child, but he managed to pull through.
He found Christ at a very young age, 22 years precisely and since then he has not looked back. Shortly after finding Christ, he started to attend Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), thanks to his aunt. In the early months of being at the church, the Church Pastor began to nurture the call of God upon his life.
The pastor ensured that he took some responsibilities which further helped him to become closer to the ways of the Lord. Around the same time, he was advised to go to bible teaching school by an evangelist which he agreed to.
Pastor Matthew always wanted to leave for Canada but God had a different plan. In 1984, the opportunity came for him to leave Nigeria for England instead of Canada. He was to go as part of a missionary.
In England, it was not like what he left at home, and leaving about 2000 members to become a pastor to just 11 members was not optimistic. The few people who later joined would often leave the church for others which was one of his lowest lows during his early days in England. It got to a point when he felt it’s time to move back to Nigeria but somehow, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo found the strength to push on.
He changed his view, the people started to come to the ministry and today he is the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) and one of the most successful pastors in Nigeria. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s net worth is estimated to be around $20m, a figure which put him as one of the wealthiest pastors in Nigeria.
4. Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua (Networth: $25m ~ ₦9b)
Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua, popularly known as T.B. Joshua needs no introduction in Nigeria. He was born on June 12, 1963, in Arigidi Akoko, Nigeria Nigeria, and currently the leader and founder of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), a Christian megachurch that runs the Emmanuel TV television station from Lagos.
As a young boy, he was always called, “small pastor” because of his dedication towards the things of God. He organized Bible studies for children and attended evening school during this time to gain a proper understanding of the word of God.
He once opted to join the military but was thwarted due to a train breakdown that left him stranded en route to the military academy.
Joshua revealed that he had a heavenly vision from God, received instructions to start his ministry and was also anointed, all in the trance. Following this, he founded The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Today, he has people coming from all over the world to him for ministrations, healings, and help.
No doubt, his ministry is a success, look at his youtube channel, ” Emmanuel TV” which has over 1m youtube subscribers making it the world’s most viewed Christian programme. Pastor T.B Joshua is mostly known for his regular occurrences of divine miracles and also for his kind heart.
Prophet Temitope Babatunde Joshua has an estimated net worth of $25m.
3. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye (Net worth: $39m ~ NGN 15.6b)
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye is a teacher, scholar, and highly honored man of God not just in Nigeria, but also overseas. He was born on 2nd of March 1942 in Ifewara, close to Ife, in Osun State, Nigeria to a very humble family.
Being poor did not in any way derail him from leaving a purposeful life, got admitted into the University of Nigeria (UNN) to study for a degree, but had it completed at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) because of Civil war which led to the award of bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1967.
In 1969, he furthered his tertiary education and obtained a master’s degree in hydrodynamics from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The journey to becoming one of the most respected men of God in Africa began when he joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1973 and began interpreting Yoruba to English by Pastor Josiah Akindayomi. While during this, he was able to get a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos.
In 1977, he became a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God and was also working at Unilorin but later gave up the position to become a full-time pastor. At that time, not many branches were around but today, the church now has more than 14,000,000 branches in Nigeria and present in over 196 countries.
For his effort, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye is now one of the top ten richest pastors in Nigeria and currently has a net worth of $39m, a proof that when you work for God, he also works on you.
2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Net worth: $50m ~ NGN 20b)
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the founder and president of the Christ Embassy. He was born on the 7th of December 1963 in Edo, Nigeria. After he got his primary and secondary education, he proceeded to Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria where he was awarded a BSc in Architecture. He also has an honorary Doctor of Science award from the same school and an honorary doctorate in divinity from the Benson Idahosa University.
The pastor has done several Philanthropic works but the most notable ones are the Inner City Mission Project. He also has his hands on outside projects such as Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Volunteer Medical Corps, InnerCity Mission for Children, Trauma Care International Foundation, and many.
In 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth to be between $30 million and $50 million which put him up there as one of the richest and powerful men of God in Nigeria.
Today, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s net worth stands at $50m, and is currently the second richest pastor in Nigeria.
1. Bishop David Oyedepo (Networth: $150m ~ NGN 60b)
Meet Bishop David Oyedepo, the richest pastor in the world. He is up there with these Nigerian pastors – Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and T.B. Joshua.
David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide (winners chapel) was born on September 27, 1954, to a Muslim father and Christian mum in Osogbo, but originally from Omu Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria.
He was raised by her grandmother in a Christian way and one of the virtues that she taught him was, “it’s good to pay tithe”. However, it was her teacher in high school, “Betty Lasher” who influenced him to receive Christ in 1969. David Oyedepo got admitted into Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin to study architecture and worked for a while at the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before resigning to concentrate on working for God. Bishop oyedepo received a Ph.D. in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States.
According to the pastor, he got his mandate in 1981, a call to free the world from every stronghold of the devils through the preaching of the word of faith which eventually led to the establishment of Living Faith Church Worldwide, although it was initially called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries, in 1981.
Pastor Adeboye of RCCG was the one that ordained David Oyedepo and his wife, Faith Abiola Oyedepo) to become pastors and officially commissioned the new church. Today, the church has become stronger in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Bishop David Oyedepo is not just a senior pastor at the winners chapel, he is also a Christian author, businessman, and architect. His net worth is estimated to amount to $150, a figure that no other pastor comes close to.
