Jim Iyke’s net worth is estimated at $30 million, making him one of the richest actors not only in Nigeria but also in Africa. The Nollywood actor accumulated his wealth majorly through his acting career and other several business enterprises.
James Ikechukwu Esomugha who is best known as Jim Iyke is a well-established Nollywood actor who began acting in 2001. With over two decades of an acting career, Jim Iyke has grown to become a force to reckon with in the Nigerian movie world. He falls in the league of veteran stars in the Nollywood industry like Desmond Elliot, Ramsey Nouah, and Genevieve Nnaji. Below is a breakdown of how the actor built his wealth.
How Jim Iyke’s Net Worth of $30 Million Came About
Jim Iyke joined Nollywood in 2001 during his undergraduate days at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He had always dreamt of becoming a popular actor in Nigeria since his secondary school days. A few years after, he luckily met Victor Opurum, a legal practitioner who encouraged him to go after his dreams. Victor made it clear to Jim that he is very talented and can achieve anything he wants in life.
So, he accepted the lawyer’s advice and kicked off the actualization of his dream by first becoming a model. Jim Iyke’s physic, height, and poise gave him an upper hand in this phase of endeavor. He ran adverts for many brands as he’s got the very qualities required of a male model. Through a decent recognition he had acquired in the modeling scene, Jim was able to gain entrance into the Nigerian movie industry.
He Had His Debut in the 2002 Movie, 1 Dollar
He first played supporting roles in a couple of movies before landing a major role in the popular 2002 film, 1 Dollar. Jim’s performance in the movie which also featured veteran actress, Patience Ozokwor was highly admirable, and with it, he established himself in the industry. Today, Jim Iyke is believed to have acted in over 150 Nigerian movies and is best known for his roles as a bad boy, arrogant young millionaire, crazy lover boy, and sassy bad boy head gangs.
A Deeper Look into Jim Iyke’s Most Successful Movies
Bad Comments
One of Jim Iyke’s most recent blockbusters is the 2020 movie, Bad Comments directed by Moses Inwang. Contrastively, the actor took a different role from the usual bad boy roles he is known for. In the movie, he played the character of Frank Orji, a prominent businessman who embarked on a revengeful journey after he was involved in internet harassment.
Bad Comments is a highly acclaimed movie that starred Nollywood A-list artists such as Sharon Ooja, Chinwetalu Agu, Patience Ozorkwor, Osas Ighodaro, and others. According to Jim, he thought it wise to re-identify himself in the movie industry. He said the inspiration behind the movie comes from his desire to portray a story that everyone can possibly relate to and in turn, change the role identity tagged on him in the industry, as well as bring in one that children and youths will be proud to be identified with.
Merry Men 1&2
Alongside Ramsey Nouah, Olamide, Regina Daniels, Falz, Iretiola, Doyle, Williams Uchemba, and AY, Jim Iyke was featured in Merry Men. In the movie, Jim Iyke portrayed the character of Naz, a member of a team that brings corrupt politicians to book. Merry Men was critically acclaimed by audiences and was commercially successful at the box office.
Last Flight to Abuja
Last Flight to Abuja is an award-winning movie shot in Abuja and aside from Jim, it featured Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, Jide Kosoko, Hakeem, Kae-Kazim, Anthony Monjaro, and Uru Eke. It was first released on the 29th of June 2012 in the UK and barely three months after, it was released in Nigeria. Last Flight to Abuja was nominated at the 2013 African Movie Academy Awards and was listed and distributed by Netflix. Jim Iyke portrayed David and the storyline is said to be based on a true-life event.
Between Kings and Queens
Between Kings and Queens is apparently one of Jim Iyke’s most successful movies, given his extraordinary performance in it. The 2010 movie was directed by Joy Dickson and Jim played the role of Nnanna, a young prince from the black African continent. In a bid to escape from his royal responsibilities, he relocated to America.
Bolting to the Western country made him susceptible to a lot of risks and then left him in a confused state of choosing between losing his sense of morality and standing before the law. Later on, it dawned on him that he was at a point of choosing between deportation and the lousy life of enjoyment in America. The movie received favorable reviews from critics and a satisfactory approval rating.
Some of His Other Successful Movies
- My Sweetheart
- Love You Forever
- Lost Passion
- Blind Love
- Break Up 1&2
- American Driver
- Stalker
- Holy City
- Power of a Kiss
- Feeling
- A night to Remember
- The Setup
- Extreme Measure
- Seven and a Half Dates
- Millionaire’s Daughter 1&2
- When Love Comes Around
- And Then There Was You
How Much Does Jim Iyke Earn Per Movie as an A-List Actor?
Thanks to his long years of an acting career, as well as his acting prowess, the Nollywood boss has gained outstanding experience in the movie industry. Jim Iyke is believed to be paid between an estimated N1 million and N1.7 million per movie appearance. Although there is no record to show exactly how his income grew to this mouthwatering height, it is no doubt that Jim Iyke is one of the highest-paid and most sought-after actors in Nigeria.
Also, the veteran star has his hand in movie production which gives him an edge to earn much more than only featuring in movies. Some of his works are available on Netflix and he could still be consistently earning more income from them which also makes another decent contribution to his net worth.
Other Sources of Jim Iyke’s Net Worth
Thanks to his successful acting career, it is arguable that a bulk of Jim Iyke’s net worth came from movies. However, the Nollywood boss has over time expanded his horizon into several other businesses. Below are other known sources of Jim Iyke’s net worth.
Burgeon Global Table Water
Jim is known to be a partner with a few others in the establishment of a table water bottling company, Burgeon Table Water. The company is based in the FTC Abuja and it has an ultra-modern bottling plant that guarantees excellent product quality for its customers. The actor took to his social media handles to joyfully announce to fans the emergence of the outstanding bottle design after several months of thorough deliberations and designing.
Untamed Productions
In addition to being an actor, Jim Iyke is a movie producer. Having worked with many production outfits as an actor and gained excellent experience, Jim decided to set up his own film production company dubbed Untamed Productions. He founded the company in the year 2007 and they have since produced a number of movies, including Good Evening, 2Dollars, Shades of White, Ebony, Perfect Choice, etc.
Untamed Records
Barely two years after the establishment of his production outfit, the actor went ahead to establish a music record label named Untamed Records. He is the first artist to launch the company with the album Who Am I? The album had guest appearances like 2face Idibia and Sound Sultan.
Untamed Closet
The celebrity actor is obviously a fashion enthusiast. Recall that he started his career as a model, Jim Iyke is known for his smart dress sense. He loves to dress up in the latest trends combined with a dapper sense of swag. Hence, he founded a fashion line named Untamed Closet. His clothing brand has not only helped him look savvier and remain fashionable but has also apparently added a chunk to his income. Interestingly, Untamed Closet caters to the fashion of some of the A-list celebrities within and outside the country.
Biggie Lottery Limited
In 2020, Jim Iyke teamed up with a few partners to found a marketing firm called Biggie Lottery Limited. He shared photos from the signing contract ceremony on his Instagram page and expressed how much hope he’s got for the company given its prospects already.
Lustrous Dynamic Global Real Estate
In 2017, Jim Iyke became part of a real estate firm, Lustrous Dynamic Global real estate. The thespian showed his interest in the business and industry by partnering with the company. Meanwhile, real estate currently remains one of the most lucrative business ventures in Nigeria with a high return on investment.
Furthermore, Jim is a partner in the developing estate, Smart City Estate located in Enugu State, Nigeria. At first, part of the company’s plan was to develop at least 200 plots and build on them luxurious homes with all the basic facilities needed to make life very enjoyable and comfortable for their patrons. Apart from this, Jim has also revealed that his estate development company had a discussion with some other developers and state governments to develop more estates in the country and beyond.
With regard to this, he made an advert on his Instagram page showing a luxurious AirBnB apartment in Lekki Lagos and stated that he has four different plush apartments available for those who need them. However, it is not clear if he owns this project singlehandedly or if it is still in conjunction with the one he partners with. Meanwhile, the actor has his home in one of his properties in Abuja
Endorsement Contracts Contribute to Jim Iyke’s Net Worth
Endorsement deals have consistently remained one of the most notable means through which celebrities like Jim Iyke amass a bulk of their wealth. As one of the cutest and most resourceful stars in the entertainment industry, Jim Iyke has signed several lucrative deals with big brands which have earned him a fortune.
One of his most lucrative deals was the one he signed with one of the biggest telecommunication companies in Nigeria, Glo. Moreso, he had signed a deal with a cab service located in the southeastern part of Nigeria known as Mr. Taxi. However, the deal ended on a bitter note after the actor was alleged to be claiming ownership of the company.
In 2018, he announced that he signed a multi-million naira deal to become the brand ambassador for a men’s luxury clothing and shoe line – Wear It All. Below is a list of some of brands he has partnered with, both past, and present.
- Glo
- Oceanic Bank
- Mr. Taxi, a cab service
- Wear It All, a clothing and shoe line
- Adonko Bitters, an alcoholic herbal drink
- Bossbus, a transport tech company
He is Also an Author
Just recently, in February 2022, the Nollywood star added a new title to his already long list of talents. He launched a new book, The Gift In The Odds: Walking Through Walls. The book launch which its sequel is expected to follow shortly came on the heels of his movie Bad Comments which was released in the previous year. In the book, Jim clearly talks about anxiety, depression, grief, and all of the emotions we experience at the crux of uncertainties.
All of these endeavors and more are big enough to contribute to Jim Iyke’s jaw-dropping net worth of $30 million that he currently enjoys.
Who is Richer Between Jim Iyke and Ramsey Nouah?
Jim Iyke and Ramsey Nouah have done well for themselves, considering their long-established status in Nollywood. They both have their personal movie production companies; Jim Iyke has Untamed Productions while Ramsey Nouah has Ramsey Films. The same applies to endorsement contracts, even though Jim has more records of deals than the latter.
However, unlike Jim Iyke, little or nothing is known about Ramsey Nouah’s investments and other businesses outside movies, but Jim has ventured into several other businesses as we have earlier discussed. Hence, it is not far-fetched how Jim Iyke built his $30 million net worth which has made him way richer than Ramsey Nouah whose net worth is $4.5 million.
Jim Iyke’s Net Worth Affords Him Opulent Cars
Jim Iyke’s good taste for fast and luxurious automobiles is clearly seen in his collection. Some of his known cars include;
- Dodge Challenger
More like a vehicular time machine, the actor’s Dodge Challenger is a two-door coupe that comes with serious performance hardware and modern features galore. It has a V-8 engine, an enhanced wide body kit, and a V-6 model with an optional all-wheel drive. How much he purchased this car is not known but to acquire the same today, you will spend nothing less than N12 million.
- Mercedes G wagon
Another luxury car in the actor’s garage is a Mercedez G Wargon which is characterized by its boxy styling and body-on-frame construction. Its other features include a state-of-the-art cockpit, intuitive steering-wheel Touch Controls, voice control for navigation, audio, and other numerous comfort features.
- Range Rover Sport
His latest acquisition is recorded to be his Range Rover Sport. The car has a black exterior and a top-notch luxury leather interior and features a 461 of torque and a 5.0L V8 engine rated for 500hp. He is mostly seen with the car when he wants to chill and hang out with his friends.
- Chevrolet Camaro
Jim Iyke’s Chevrolet Camaro has some notable features which include a rear-wheel-drive, four-seat coupe, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 275 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6; a 455-hp, 6.2-liter V-8, 335-hp, a 650-hp, and supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. All the engines came with a standard six-speed manual transmission.