Richest Female Actors in Nigeria by Ethnic Group (2025)

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In recent years, the richest female Nollywood actors, regardless of ethnicity, have emerged as pillars of creativity, entrepreneurship, and social leadership. This is not just for themselves but for a generation of Nigerian women. They are no longer confined to on-screen roles; these women are expanding their influence across production, endorsement, philanthropy, and politics, rewriting what it means to be successful in Nigeria’s cinematic landscape.

Their growing wealth and visibility reflect women’s broader empowerment in Nigeria. Each ethnicity brings its own cultural richness and business savvy, and the rising prosperity of actresses from Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other backgrounds showcases how talent, diversity, and strategic acumen converge to produce phenomenal success.

This article categorises some of these female stars based on ethnicity.

 

Richest Female Nollywood Actors

• Yoruba:

The underlisted are the top richest Yoruba actresses in Nigeria. 

1. Funke Akindele:

Funke Akindele is one of the most influential figures in Nollywood, recognised for her roles as an actress, producer, director, and investor. She holds a striking record as the highest-grossing director in Nigerian cinema, with box office revenues surpassing ₦4.7 billion. Her film *Everybody Loves Jenifa* (2025) became the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time. Her Yoruba-led creations, such as “Omo Ghetto: The Saga”, “Battle on Buka Street” and “A Tribe Called Judah”, have solidified her status in the industry. 

Although Funke Akindele’s specific net worth for 2025 is not definitively available, sources from late 2024 indicate a net worth of around $9 million USD. In early 2025, news broke about Funke Akindele’s acquisition of a private jet and a new mansion, which signifies significant wealth and professional success but does not provide an updated, official net worth figure.

 

2. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde:

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a Nigerian actress, singer, philanthropist, and former model. She is one of the most beautiful actresses in the Nollywood industry and is often tagged as “Omosexy” because of her beautiful figure. Since her Nollywood film debut in 1995, Omotola has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies. She is recognised in the Nigerian film industry alongside Genevieve Nnaji and Sola Sobowale. She is one of the icons of Nollywood with a net worth of  $9.7 million.

 

• Igbo:

Despite the lack of public documentation of specific net worth figures, Nollywood’s wealthiest rankings frequently cite certain Igbo actresses. It is the ranking of the richest Igbo Nollywood actresses.

 

1. Genevieve Nnaji:

Widely considered one of the wealthiest actresses in Nollywood, she has built a long and successful career in acting, directing, and producing. Genevieve Nnaji is one of the wealthiest actresses in Nigeria, with a net worth of 15 million US dollars. She became the first billionaire (in Naira) in Nollywood when her Netflix film Lionheart premiered for an estimated $3.8 million, thereby boosting her profile. 

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2. Rita Dominic:

Rita Dominic makes a lot of money from her acting career and the plethora of endorsement deals she has secured. 

Just like other actresses on our list of richest Nollywood actresses, Rita Dominic charges millions to feature in a movie. Rita Dominic’s net worth is also influenced by endorsement deals from BK Unique Hair (Canadian luxury hair), Flat Tummy Tea (herbal weight loss beverage), Zaron Cosmetics, Keystone Bank, and Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) Goodwill. We estimate Rita Dominic’s net worth to be approximately $7.5 million in 2025.

 

• Hausa (Especially from Kannywood)

These are the richest Kannywood actresses 

1. Rahama Sadau: 

Rahama Sadau gained prominence in the Kannywood film sphere and later branched into Nollywood. She founded Sadau Pictures and launched ventures like Sadau Beauty and an ice-cream shop in Kaduna. Her influence transcends acting into entrepreneurship and social empowerment. Her net worth is estimated to be over $400,000, and this net worth is calculated based on her movie earnings, business income, public speaking appearances, brand endorsements, and digital content revenue.

2. Hadiza Aliyu

Another prominent figure in Hausa cinema, Hadiza Aliyu, is both a celebrated actress and a public figure. As a Kannywood and Nollywood actress, she has served as an ambassador for brands like MTN Nigeria and Indomie, and founded the HAG Foundation—demonstrating the broad sources of influence and income for Hausa actresses.

 

Sources of Income: How These Stars Build Wealth

What unites these wealthiest female Nollywood actors across ethnicities is their diversified revenue streams. Their wealth is never tied solely to acting alone—it thrives on innovation and strategic expansion.

• Film Production

Funke Akindele’s gargantuan success stems from producing hits that shatter nationwide records.

Liz Anjorin invests personal capital into high-production Yoruba films, aiming for both artistic impact and commercial return.

• Endorsements & Brand Ambassadorships

Rahama Sadau has lucrative deals with brands like Maltina.

Hadiza Aliyu represents MTN Nigeria and Indomie. These roles elevate their public persona and income.

• Entrepreneurship & Business Ventures

“Sadau Beauty” and her ice-cream business diversify Rahama’s portfolio.

Funke’s production company and Liz’s investments in fashion and film add to her asset base.

The prominence of these actresses signals shifting paradigms. As women claim leadership roles across ethnic divides, Nollywood becomes not just a mirror of culture but a catalyst for gender and regional equality.

 

Conclusion: Wealthiest Female Nollywood Actors

The richest female Nollywood actors across ethnicities are more than entertainers—they are business leaders, cultural ambassadors, and role models for resilience and diversity. 

Although these are just a few of the many, they are proof that women can rule the world, especially when it comes to wealth. 

Their stories underscore that wealth in Nollywood is no longer confined to acting prowess alone but is built through production savvy, brand partnerships, entrepreneurship, and social impact. As Nollywood continues to evolve, these women stand at the forefront, empowering the younger generation.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Wealthiest Female Nollywood Actors

1: Who are the wealthiest female Nollywood actors across ethnicities?

Leading names include Funke Akindele (Yoruba), Liz Anjorin (Yoruba), Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic (Igbo), and Rahama Sadau and Hadiza Aliyu (Hausa/Kannywood). Their wealth comes from a mixture of acting, production, endorsements, and entrepreneurial ventures.

2: Are there notable wealthy Igbo actresses?

Actresses like Genevieve Nnaji and Rita Dominic consistently appear on richest-actress rankings, thanks to decades of industry dominance and endorsement deals. 

3: How are Hausa actresses succeeding in film and business?

A: Female Hausa stars like Rahama Sadau and Hadiza Aliyu have expanded their influence through production companies, beauty brands, food ventures, brand ambassadorships, and charitable foundations. 

4: How does ethnicity affect opportunities in Nollywood?

A: Ethnicity can shape access to language-specific markets and cultural narratives. Yoruba and Igbo cinemas have extensive infrastructure; Kannywood’s Hausa films often face stricter cultural norms. Still, all share growing access to national screens and digital platforms, improving cross-ethnic business potential.