In recent years, pastors have been discovered to bask in wealth under the umbrella of church and religion, unlike early missionaries who were known by their poor status but believed there was spiritual prosperity for them. In the case of Nigerian pastors, the saying of being as poor as a church rat is not valid. Rats in churches are now well fed as pastors are now spending their heavenly wealth on earth.
This has generated a lot of criticism with the advent of common people delving into the pastoring business while backing it up with rituals. Pastors are meant to head or oversee the activities of a church and its congregation.
During church services, it is the common practice to pay tithe, which is a tenth part of one’s income, offering, seeds, partnership and other forms of donation to the church. The money collected is then remitted to the senior pastor or general overseer of the church.
Top 10 Richest Pastors in Nigeria
Since tax is not paid by churches and it is believed to be a taboo to ask a pastor what he did with the congregation’s money, their income continue getting bigger with the continuous donations.
Here is a list of the 10 richest pastors in Nigeria and their net worth:
10. Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo – $4 Million
Fondly referred to as “Pastor B” by his church members and followers, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, the founder and senior or lead pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly popularly known as COZA, is the 10th richest pastor in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $4 million. Despite being a stylish pastor who is revered by his members, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo remains one of the most controversial pastors in Nigeria, with several alleged rape accusations and sexual harassment of female members of his church. The fashion-inclined MOG lives an opulent lifestyle that he doesn’t hide from the public.
9. Pastor Sam Adeyemi – $6 Million
Sam Adeyemi is the founder and holds the title of senior pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos. He started as a pastor at the Rhema chapel in Kwara state before he received an instruction from God to start his own church. He was born on the third day of February 1937. He is a graduate of Kwara state university and bagged a Higher National Diploma degree in civil engineering. Like most pastors, he is the author of several publications. Pastor Sam Adeyemi currently is the 9th richest pastor in Nigeria and has a net worth of $6 million. He is married to Adenike Adeyemi and has three children.
8. Apostle Johnson Suleman – $7 Million
Born to Muslim parents, Apostle Johnson Suleman is the senior pastor and general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries. His Church has branches spread across the globe with its headquarters in Auchi, Edo state. He is a graduate of mass communication and holds a doctorate degree in Human resource development. He has also authored many motivational books. His Church also owns a Television station called Celebration TV and a radio station called Voice of Fire. He is married to Reverend Lizzy Johnson Suleman and has a net worth estimated to be around $7 million. He is also among Nigerian pastors who own a private jet. Like Pastor Fatoyinbo, Apostle Suleman is one of the most controversial pastors in Nigeria who has been tied repeatedly to sex scandals with mostly Nollywood actresses and socialites. Recently, he has been involved in some scandals where he was rumored to have had extra marital affairs with some celebrities.
7. Lazarus Muoka – $8 Million
Born into a Catholic family in Imo state, Lazarus Muoka is the founder of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement. He was a businessman before he received God’s instruction of leaving the church he was serving as a pastor to start his own church. The church started with few members and has grown to be one of the most popular churches in Nigeria. Lazarus Muoka has a net worth of $8 million. His income is mostly from his private business, church donations and book publishing.
6. David Ibiyeomie – $10 Million
David Ibiyeomie was born on October 21st, 1962, in Rivers state. He is an author, televangelist and the founder of Salvation Ministries. He started his Bible School training at Word of Faith Bible Institute owned by Bishop David Oyedepo and began a house fellowship which graduated to Salvation Ministries upon the completion of the bible school training. His television program: Hour of Salvation is aired on local and international television stations. David Ibiyeomie is the sixth richest pastor in Nigeria and currently has a net worth of $10 million.
5. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo – $15 Million
Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo was born on January 1st, 1970, and the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre. He converted to Christianity from Islam at the age of 22. His Church is known for holding the title of being the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom. He has a media company where the major source of his wealth comes from. He is also known for his teachings on prosperity and Success. With a net worth that has been growing significantly, pastor Matthew Ashimolowo is currently valued at $15 million.
4. Pastor Ayodele Oritsejafor – $19 Million
Popular referred to as Papa Ayo, Ayodele Oritsejafor is a Nigerian pastor, author and philanthropist. He is the founder and senior pastor of Life Bible Church, situated in Warri. He was also a former national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Not only is Ayodele Oritsejafor a jet owner like some of the other pastors on this list, but his jet was also used to ferry the sum of $10 million meant for arms in South Africa until the South African government seized the jet. He was the first pastor to launch a miracle crusade watched by non-African audience through a satellite. He is married to Helen Oritsejafor and has a net worth of $19 million.
3. Pastor E.A Adeboye – $39 Million
Pastor Enoch ADEBOYE is the general overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. He was born on March 2nd, 1942, in Osun State. He is a professor of mathematics and also a businessman. He is the founder of Redeemers University and married to Foluke Adeboye. Daddy G.O, as he is fondly called, is the most respected and influential pastor in Nigeria. And while the RCCG does not exactly function as a one-man church, Pastor Adeboye has some properties scattered across Nigeria, including a mansion in the Federal Capital Territory and his hometown, Ifewara, in Osun State. The world-renowned pastor who said he bought his first shoe at the age of 18 currently has a net worth of $39 million.
2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – $50 Million
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the president of the Loveworld international, popularly known as Christ embassy. He was born on 7th December 1963 in Edo state. He is the author of several books including Rhapsody of Realities, the world’s number one daily devotional and also a faith healing minister. His television ministries extend throughout the world with the help of satellite networks. He also operates a messenger app called kingschat. He is also a known philanthropist. He was married to Anita Ebhodaghe but got divorced in 2016. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the second richest pastor in Nigeria and his net worth is estimated to be $50 million.
1. Bishop David Oyedepo – $200 Million
For a long time now, Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church otherwise called Winners’ Chapel has been recognized by Forbes as the wealthiest pastor not only in Nigeria but the whole world with a net worth of over $200 million. He owns four private jets and several cars. According to him, he was told by God in an 18-hour vision to liberate the world from persecution. This vision led to the establishment of the Living Faith Church which was first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries. His Church boasts of a massive land mass known as Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State; a primary school called Kingdom Heritage School; a Secondary school with full boarding facilities named Faith Academy and two tertiary institutions: Covenant University and Babcock University. Bishop David Oyedepo is a spiritual son to Pastor E.A Adeboye and is the richest pastor in Nigeria with a net word of $200 million.