Richest Comedians in Nigeria 2024: The comedy industry in Nigeria has overtime experienced a boom as many people are getting into it to showcase their talents in divergent ways. New comedy shows and performances such as Instagram skits, YouTube funny videos, TikTok reels and so on have now become so rampant. There are so many people now who make a living from just amusing people and even more people are jumping on the train.
However, it is not everyone of these ribcrackers that gets to make it big from cracking jokes and making funny videos. Just like in every aspect of human endeavor, some win while others lose. While many people are not doing so well for themselves from comedy, others are making the bag as professional comedians and have earned themselves a place on the list of the richest comedians in Nigeria.
You must be wondering whether your favorite comedian made it to this list. Read on to find out!
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Top 14 Richest and Highest Paid Comedians in Nigeria 2024
1. Ali Baba: With a net worth of a whopping N3 billion, Ali Baba tops our list of the richest comedians in Nigeria, this year. Ali Baba is viewed as the father of comedy business in Nigeria. From as far back as 1990, he has been in the business of entertaining people through jokes and has worked his way to become the wealthiest comedian that Nigeria has ever had.
2. AY: Following closely with a net worth of N2.5 billion, is Ayo Makun, widely known as AY. He has won a lot of awards as a comedian, event planner, TV presenter, movie producer, actor and director.
AY’s birth date is 19th of August, 1971. He was born in Lagos and is the first of the five children of his parents.
AY’s rise to stardom was accelerated after he featured in the comedy show titled, “Night of a Thousand Laughs.” From there, his popularity and talent grew in leaps and bounds and he became a household name in the comedy industry.
AY is the organizer of the popular AY show which is a big comedy show that attracts thousands of people from across Nigeria and beyond. These are just a few of the exploits of this comedian that has fetched him huge amounts of money and earned him second place on our list of the richest comedians in Nigeria.
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3. Basketmouth: Basketmouth whose real name is Bright Okocha is a well known Nigerian comedy merchant born on the 14th of September 1978.
He went to secondary school in Apapa Lagos from where he went on to read sociology and anthropology in Edo State at the University of Benin, in Benin City.
As one of the ambassadors of Glo, a telecommunications company in Nigeria, Basket Mouth’s major source of income appears to be from endorsement agreements of this kind. This is one of the ways through which many entertainers make a lot of money.
Reports state that he is paid as much as ₦2 million for every time he performs. His net worth is estimated to be at ₦2 billion.
4. I Go Die: “I Go Die” just like AY and indeed, many other Nigerian comedians, began their stride to stardom in the Nigerian comedy industry after performing at the famous comedy show, “Night of a Thousand Laughs.” The show featured performances by some of the best comedy talents in the country and was highly applauded for how excellent it went.
Apart from comedy, I Go Die also dabbles into real estate and construction. He is worth an approximate ₦1.8 million.
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5. Julius Agwu: Julius Agwu is another talented act that must be mentioned whenever you talk about the who is who in the Nigerian comedy industry.
Julius has been in the business of making people laugh. In fact, he is one of the oldest comedians in the country. He is known to have nutured and trained many of the other comedians who have made it today too, such as Basket Mouth.
In 2016, Julius was said to be dead by doctors. It was while his body was being taken to the mortuary that he came back to life. This happened after the comedian had suffered from a deadly disease. According to him, it was God who saved his life.
Julius’ net worth is pegged at N1.5 billion.
6. Okey Bakassi: When it comes to stand- up comedy, Okechukwu Anthony Onyegbule, aka Okey Bakassi, is a force to reckon with.
He is also an actor. In 2014, he was presented with an award for the “Best Actor in a Leading Role” during the Best Nollywood Awards. This award was for the excellent role he played in the movie— Onye Ozi.
Okey Bakassi began his journey in the comedy and indeed entertainment industry a long long time ago. He was into comedy even when it was not paying so well.
Okey is known for the numerous top notch shows which had highly placed Nigerians such as politicians and celebrities in attendance.
His years of hard work are now paying off and he is one of the most successful people in the business of comedy in Nigeria. He is currently worth a massive ₦800 million.
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7. Bovi: Bovi does stand- up comedy and acting. He is from Delta State. He is famous for organizing great stand-up comedy performances and shows such as the much talked about “Bovi Man on Fire.”
From the time he became known as an excellent stand- up comedian, Bovi has not rested on his oars. He has worked hard to get himself to the highly placed position he is at right now in the entertainment industry.
He has a net worth of ₦600 million, a huge part of which is believed to have come from his shows and endorsement deals.
8. Gbenga Adeyinka: Gbenga is one name that cannot be left out when naming the big boys in the Nigerian entertainment industry, especially comedy. He is in the business of event planning and management. These events and shows that he organizes for celebrities, politicians and their ilk also features him and other comedians providing rib cracking performances that leave attendants thoroughly satisfied and hearty.
Gbenga Adeyinka is famous for his popular show called “Laffmattaz.” The show has been said to fetch him a lot of money.
However, he has other businesses and has a lot of assets in his name in different parts of the country. Gbenga is worth ₦500 million.
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9. Gordons: At number 9 on our list of the richest comedians in Nigeria, 2022 is Gordons who has a net worth of N400 million.
Gordons whose government name is Godwin Komone is a well-known Nigerian stand-up comedian , television presenter, actor, compere, television personality and music artiste.
Many have said that he is among the best stand-up comedians that Nigeria has had.
If you know Gordons, you would be familiar with his popular jibe “Hallelujah!” Gordon’s talent has indeed paved way for him. Since his rise to popularity through the “Night of a Thousand Laughs” show organized by Opa Williams, he has continued to rise steadily and has a place for himself in the hall of fame of the Nigerian comedy industry.
10. Akpororo: Born Bowoto Jephthah Oluwatiseyifumi Tanimola, Nigerian stand-up comedian, actor and singer Akpororo is an artiste that is dear to many Nigerians because of the charisma and energy which he exudes whenever he is on stage. This is one of the reasons his rise to stardom was a quick one.
Akpororo is one of the youngest Nigerian comedians but he has performed in several high-profile events and has organized some by himself too. Akpororo is known for performing even in churches. This is not a usual stage for many comedians but he broke that barrier. He is worth about ₦350 million.
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11. Seyilaw: Lawrence Seyi Law, a comedian, actor, and presenter, is Oluwaseyitan Aletile. He hosts “Dole a yi diaria” in Lagos. 2006 AY Open Mic Comedy Challenge winner Seyi Law.
After winning the competition, he studied comedy with Ayo Makun for a year before pursuing it professionally. Seyi Law acted in The Wedding Party 2, Me and My Wife, Prophet Nebu, and other Nollywood films. Seyilaw is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest comedians with a $750,000 networth.
12. Papa Ajasco: Papa Ajasco, born 1960, is a Nigerian comedy actor. Femi Ogunrombi, a Nigerian comedian, portrayed Papa Ajasco in Wale Adenuga’s renowned TV series. Ogunrombi, known as “Uncmusicologist,” was an actor, singer, highlifist, and nurse. Born in Ille-Ife, he is from Abeokuta, Ogun State. Ogunrombi went to Lagos in the early 1970s. Married with three lovely children.
At Ikeja General Hospital, Ogunrombi performed medical nursing. He departed to follow his art passion. Femi Ogunrombi directed Nigeria’s National Troupe’s music for a decade. Pencil Film and Television Institute, Lagos, Director of Studies. Musicologist for almost 30 years. Femi Ogunrombi died late Saturday, January 14, 2023.
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13. Real Warri Pikin: Anita Alaire Afoke Asuoha, known as Real Warri Pikin, is a Nigerian stand-up comedian, actress, social media phenomenon presenter, life coach, and philanthropist. She earned first in the 2008 “Glo Rock ‘N’ Rule” dance competition. 2009 Globacom ambassador. She placed second in the 2011 Maltina Dance All Family competition with her family. Warri Again, Akpororo vs. Akpororo, Man on Fire, and the AY show are among her Nigerian comedy performances. She compers several events nationwide. Anita Asuoha performs as Real Warri Pikin. She hosts “Real Talk With Real Warri Pikin” on Max 90.9 FM Abuja.
REAL WARRI PIKIN UNFILTERED was her largest Warri comedy concert on August 1, 2021. Abuja, Warri, Ghana, Milton Keynes, Manchester, and London hosted the exhibition. She performed in Ghana, Senegal, the US, and Nigeria. She performed at Warri Again?, AY LIVE, Bovi’s “Man on Fire,” etc. Real Warri Pikin hosts humour.
Real Warri Pikin has appeared in Nollywood films including Prophetess, Fate of Alakada, Aki and Pawpaw, The Ghost and the Tout Too, The Stand Up, Intricate, Lemonade, Merry Men 2, etc. She published “School of Thought” with TENI in January 2021. Her apparel business, Real Warri Pikin Merch, debuted in October 2021. She’s one of Nigeria’s wealthiest comedians with an estimated 700,000 dollars.
14. Edo Pikin: Gbadamosi Agbonjor Nigerian comedian MC Edo Pikin is Jonathan. He’s from Edo State’s Ihievbe.The 2021 THA Standup Comedian of the Year was MC Edo Pikin. His elder brother, Gbadamasi Bernard Koboko, influenced his 2014 comedy career. Every Package Entertainment CEO.
Edo Pikin Undiluted is his renowned comedic show. He performed at Voltage-of-hype, Bovi’s Naughty by Nature, Supernova Live Concert. He’s worth $500,000.
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Conclusion
And those are the big boys in the Nigerian comedy industry, 2024. They have put in their best and even dabbled into other entertainment related ventures and have succeeded in making the bag while making people happy. Chances are that your favorite comedian is on the list!
Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.