Forbes releases its list of the richest pastors in Africa and Nigeria's
pastors made the top 5.The richest Pastor in the world is the President
and Founder of the world's largest Church Building according to the 2008
Guinness Book of Records - Bishop David O.Oyedepo of the Living Faith
Church, A.K.A. Winners Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria. Below are the 5 richest pastors in africa
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 former President Atta Mills.
4. 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.
5. 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 in the Nigerian presidential
elections for the third 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
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