Nollywood Actor Yemi Solade Questions Source of Actresses’ Lavish Lifestyles

Veteran Nollywood actor, Yemi Solade, has stirred debate after declaring that no actress in the Nigerian film industry could legitimately purchase a luxury G-Wagon solely from acting income.

Speaking on the Honest Bunch podcast, Solade cast doubt on how some female actors manage to acquire such expensive vehicles despite the industry’s modest pay scale.

“Different people enter Nollywood for different reasons,” he said. “We have true professionals who live within the limits of what producers pay them, but there are also others who treat the industry as a temporary stop. I won’t name names, but I can assure you no actress in Nollywood bought a G-Wagon from acting money. I know exactly what I earn, and it is nowhere near enough for that.”

His remarks come amid public conversations around the apparent gap between what entertainers earn on screen and the luxurious lifestyles many display off it — from exotic vacations to high-end homes and designer cars.

Solade, who has worked in Nollywood for over 30 years across both Yoruba and English-language films, emphasized that acting alone does not fund the “larger-than-life” appearances often flaunted by some.

The comments add to the ongoing debate about financial transparency and side incomes in the entertainment sector, with critics suggesting that endorsements, business ventures, and other undisclosed sources play a bigger role in sustaining such opulent lifestyles than acting fees alone.