The Five Richest Pastors In Nigeria

God is good, especially if you're a Nigerian
pastor with some business savvy. These
days, millions of souls, desperate for
financial breakthroughs, miracles and
healing, all rush to the church for
redemption. 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 my emails.
Bishop David Oyedepo
Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach
Ministry, aka Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $150 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.
Chris Oyakhilome
Church: Believers' Loveworld Ministries,
a.k.a Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $30 million – $50
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.
Temitope Joshua
Church: Synagogue Church Of All Nations
(SCOAN)
Estimated net worth: $10 million – $15
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
incurable 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 is close friends with Ghanaian
President Atta Mills.
Matthew Ashimolowo
Kingsway International Christian Centre
(KICC)
Estimated net worth: $6 million – $10 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: $3 million -$10 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.