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Bishop Oyedepo 2nd As 3 Nigerian Pastors Make Latest List of Top 10 Richest In The World 2025
Religious leaders who have amassed significant wealth through their ministries, media empires, and business ventures are attracting global attention, with many people interested in who the richest pastors in the world are, and how much they are worth.
These pastors, some leading megachurches and others heading influential television ministries, have built substantial financial empires, blending their spiritual missions with savvy entrepreneurship. The wealth of these leaders often sparks debates about the intersection of religion and material success, with some viewing it as a sign of divine favour and others questioning its alignment with Christian values of modesty and charity
As of 2025, the list of the world’s top ten richest pastors is led by Kenneth Copeland and David Oyedepo. Their net worth, along with others on the list, reflects the vast influence they wield both within and beyond their congregations. From real estate investments to publishing and media, these pastors have leveraged their platforms to achieve financial success, cementing their status as some of the wealthiest spiritual leaders in the world.
Kenneth Copeland
Kenneth Copeland, founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, holds the title of the wealthiest pastor worldwide. Based in Texas, his ministry’s global reach is amplified by his television network, books, and speaking engagements. Copeland’s luxury properties and private jet are often seen as reflections of his belief in the “prosperity gospel.”
David Oyedepo
Bishop David Oyedepo, leader of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, commonly known as Winners’ Chapel, is Africa’s richest pastor. His wealth comes from his churches, publishing house, schools, and Covenant University, a top private university in Nigeria.
Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), has had a substantial impact in both the media and political realms. His network has played a significant role in global Christian programming, solidifying his status as a leading televangelist.
Joel Osteen
As senior pastor of Lakewood Church, the largest megachurch in the U.S., Joel Osteen is well known for his uplifting messages. His wealth stems largely from his best-selling books and television ministry, which reach millions worldwide.
Enoch Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adeboye heads the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of Africa’s largest religious organisations. With churches across the globe, Adeboye’s influence is immense, and his spiritual leadership has garnered him widespread respect.
Uebert Angel
Prophet Uebert Angel, founder of Spirit Embassy (Good News Church), has rapidly grown in prominence. His wealth is derived from his ministry and various business ventures, particularly in real estate, and he has a growing following across continents.
Benny Hinn
Famous for his “miracle healing” crusades, Benny Hinn is one of the most recognisable televangelists in the world. His healing services, widely broadcast, have contributed significantly to his wealth through ministry and media ventures.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the founder of Christ Embassy, also known as Believers’ Loveworld. His ministry, focused on teaching and healing, reaches millions through television, publications, and even a music label, making him one of Africa’s richest pastors.
Pastor Creflo Dollar
Creflo Dollar, known for his teachings on the “prosperity gospel,” leads World Changers Church International. His ministry’s emphasis on financial blessings has helped him build wealth through books, television, and speaking engagements.
Rick Warren
Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, rounds out the list. His book’s global success has made him one of the most influential Christian leaders in the world, extending his influence beyond his congregation.
The significant wealth accumulated by these pastors continues to fuel debates, particularly surrounding the “prosperity gospel,” which suggests that financial success is a sign of divine favour. While supporters see this as a positive interpretation of faith, critics argue it contradicts traditional Christian values such as humility and charity.
Nevertheless, these religious leaders have built massive empires, intertwining their spiritual missions with business savvy. Their influence extends not just within their congregations but also across global media and economic spheres.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), has defended his ministry’s practices and origins, asserting that its founding and key decisions, including the acquisition of his private aircraft, were guided by direct divine instructions.
In a video clip circulating on social media, Bishop Oyedepo dismissed any claims of a “co-founder” of the ministry, stating, “This ministry has no co-founder. The first one to hear the mission is this young lady [pointing to his wife],” referring to his wife.
He said that all the founding principles and “12 pillars” of the commission were given to him directly by God, not by men.
The cleric also addressed the often-criticised topic of his private jets, asserting that the decision to acquire them was not his own.
“It was not a discussion. It was God who told me it’s time to get the aircraft,” he said.
Oyedepo also touched on the church’s employment policies, emphasising that the ministry is not run in a loose or informal manner.
He stated that all staff, regardless of their claims of a divine calling, must go through a formal process. “You write an application, you do an interview, you get an employment letter, you respond,” he said.
In conversations about wealth and influence in Africa, Nigeria often takes center stage. While much of the spotlight falls on male billionaires dominating the oil, telecoms, and banking sectors.
A remarkable group of women are shattering glass ceilings and making their mark on the business world. They are the wealthiest women in Nigeria, not only accumulating great fortunes but also inspiring future generations with their drive and ingenuity.
Here are the stories of the top 5 richest women in Nigeria, their backgrounds, business ventures, and the influence they wield.
1. Folorunsho Alakija (Estimated net worth: $1 billion)
Folorunsho Alakija is a true self-made billionaire, defying stereotypes and paving the way for other women in Nigeria. In 2020, Forbes termed Folorunso Alakija the richest woman in Nigeria and “the most powerful woman in Africa.”
She started her career in fashion design, establishing a successful clothing line. However, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to explore new ventures. In the 1990s, Alakija’s company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil exploration license, propelling her to the forefront of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. She is also a philanthropist, supporting education initiatives and empowering women through her foundation.
2. Hajia Bola Shagaya (Estimated net worth: $950 million)
Hajia Bola Shagaya’s journey began in the civil service, working as an auditor for the Central Bank of Nigeria. However, her entrepreneurial spirit soon took hold. She started by importing photographic equipment, laying the foundation for her successful business group, Bolmus Group International.
This diversified conglomerate has interests in oil and gas, real estate, banking, and photography. Shagaya is a prominent figure in Nigerian business circles and a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
3. Daisy Danjuma (Estimated net worth: $900 Million)
Daisy Danjuma is the wife of retired Nigerian General Theophilus Danjuma, a prominent businessman. While details of her early career are limited, she has become a powerful figure in her own right.
Danjuma is the co-founder of Afenmai Austeniti Limited, an oil and gas exploration company. She is also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
4. Fifi Ekanem Ejindu (Estimated net worth: $850 million)
Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is an architect, entrepreneur, and benefactor with familial ties to King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town, Calabar. She ranks among the foremost female architects in Nigeria and established the Starcrest Group of Companies, encompassing real estate development, architectural design, and investment sectors.
Her fortune is estimated at approximately $850 million. In 2013, she was honoured with the African Achievers Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Fashion.
Renowned for her innovative and neo-traditional approach to architecture, Fifi continues to make significant impacts in her field.
5. Stella Okoli (Estimated net worth: $800 million)
Stella Okoli, an industrious pharmacist, business leader, and philanthropist, is the driving force behind Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries LTD. From a humble pharmacy, she has grown her business into a pharmaceutical giant valued at $800 million.
She also holds leadership roles as the Vice President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
In memory of her son Chike Okoli, who passed away in 2005, she founded the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006. This charity aims to fight poverty and diseases, with a special focus on preventing cardiovascular diseases. Stella Okoli also manages the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator
Claim: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as incorrectly displayed in some Google search results.
Findings
Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is often inaccurately portrayed in online search results as the biological son of Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
However, reliable sources and historical records clarify that Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess.
Bunmi Oshonaike was married to Bola Tinubu before his current wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The marriage produced Seyi Tinubu before the union dissolved. Subsequently, Bola Tinubu married Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who became Seyi’s stepmother. While Oluremi Tinubu plays a prominent role in Seyi’s life, particularly given her public profile, she is not his biological mother.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator. This highlights the need for better contextual accuracy in automated search results to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Final Verdict.
The claim is true: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Who is Bunmi Oshonaike?
Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess with the defunct Nigeria Airways, is the biological mother of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This fact clarifies the common misconception that Senator Oluremi Tinubu is Seyi Tinubu’s mother. Nigerians are widely aware of this distinction.
Seyi Tinubu has celebrated his biological mother’s birthday publicly, including publishing tributes in national newspapers since 2022, further affirming her role as his mother.
Her ethnicity is Yoruba, originating from the southwestern region of Nigeria. Although unconfirmed sources suggest that she hails from Lagos State, there are no detailed accounts of her biography available online.
Bunmi is 65 years old as of 2024. This calculation is based on her 60th birthday, which was celebrated and published by THISDAY Newspaper on November 11, 2019. This publication confirms her birth year, making her age 65 in 2024
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