breakthroughs, miracles and healing, all rush to the
church for redemption.
God is good, especially if you’re a Nigerian pastor
with some business savvy.
And while the bible expressly states that salvation is
free, at times it comes with a cost: offerings, tithes,
gifts to spiritual leaders, and a directive to buy
literature and other products created by men of God.
Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting
people to Heaven; they’ve devised intelligent ways to
make good money while reaching out to souls.
Take Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for example. He is the
founder and lead pastor of the Christ Embassy, a
thriving congregation with branches in Nigeria, South
Africa, London, Canada and the United States.
His publishing company, Loveworld Publications,
publishes ‘Rhapsody of Realities,’ a monthly
devotional he co-authors with his wife.
It sells over 2 million copies every month at $1
apiece. He also owns television stations, newspapers,
magazines, a hotel, a fast-food chain, and more.
Many other Nigerian pastors are similarly building
multi-million dollar empires from their churches.
Today, pastors fly around in private jets, drive fancy
cars like Daimlers, Porsches and BMWs, don Rolexes
and Patek Phillipes, and own breathtaking mansions
all over the world.
After the blog post I wrote in May about Nigerian
pastors owning private jets, I was bombarded with
emails from readers requesting to know the richest
pastors in Nigeria.
So I set out to investigate the assets of some of
Nigeria’s most prominent pastors, and I came up
with conservative estimates of their fortunes.
I contacted representatives for all of the pastors and
all except Matthew Ashimolowo’s representative
confirmed ownership of the assets I list.
Representatives for Pastor Ashimolowo did not
respond to n
BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO
Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka
Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $190 million
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.
Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London
and the United States.
He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving
publishing company that publishes all his books
(which are often centered on prosperity).
He founded and owns Covenant University, one of
Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith
Academy, an elite high school.
PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME
Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ
Embassy
Estimated net worth: $100 million – $120 million
Last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center
of a $35 million money laundering case in which he
was accused of siphoning funds from his church to
foreign banks.
Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the case
was eventually dismissed.
His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than
40,000 members, several of whom are successful
business executives and politicians.
Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include
newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a
record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real
estate.
His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian
network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the
world on a 24 hour basis.
PROPHET TEMITOPE JOSHUA
Estimated net worth: $60 million – $80 million
Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of
its richest and most philanthropic.
T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all
Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in
1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers
on Sundays.
The Pastor has remained controversial for several
years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of
difficult to cure diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer
and paralysis.
For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect
seduction. The church currently has branches in
Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and
Greece.
In the past three years, he has given over $20 million
to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation
programs for former Niger Delta militants.
He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television
network, and was close friends with late Ghanaian
President Atta Mills.
PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Estimated net worth: $25 million – $50 million
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.
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.
Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond to a
request confirming his net worth and ownership of all
these assets.
CHRIS OKOTIE
Church: Household of God Church
Net worth: $15 million -$25 million
Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop
musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced
the bible and set up the Household of God Church,
one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations.
His 5,000 member church consists predominantly of
Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people.
He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections
for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a
political party he founded and funds.
An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600,
Hummer and Porsche among several others.
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