Yemi Solade: “No Actress Bought a G-Wagon From Acting Alone”

Veteran Nollywood star Yemi Solade has sparked online debate after claiming that no Nigerian actress has ever bought a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon purely from acting income.

In a recent interview, Solade argued that while Nollywood is thriving in visibility, the financial returns from acting alone are not nearly enough to fund such multi-million naira luxury purchases.

“No actress can say she bought her G-Wagon from the money made from acting — because how much do they really earn? Acting alone cannot give any actress money enough to buy such a car, unless they have other businesses or sources of income,” he said.

The comments quickly ignited reactions across social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on the state of Nollywood earnings versus the lavish lifestyles of its stars.

Some users agreed with Solade:

• @klintzeal_mix suggested that some actresses may have invested wisely: “Probably they invested the little money they were earning.”

• @orobo4sure questioned bluntly: “Wahala, how are they making their money then?”

Others disagreed, pointing to top earners in the industry:

• @TkakaBariga argued that actresses like Funke Akindele could afford a G-Wagon from their success in acting and film production.

• @PabloVenz0 added: “Everybody mentioning Funke Akindele lol. The man said money from acting, not producing. Besides, Funke has plenty investments.”

• @SarahAkinyemi7 joked: “Wumi Toriola can say she bought herself a private jet from acting, because she acts wonders.”

Solade’s remarks touch on a long-running conversation in Nollywood about pay disparity, side hustles, and how actors sustain their lifestyles beyond the screen.