Otedola’s net worth nears $2 billion after $500 million gain YTD

Nigerian billionaire investor Femi Otedola has amassed a staggering net worth of $1.8 billion, edging closer to the coveted $2 billion mark since the start of 2026. According to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires ranking as of August 21, 2026, Otedola's wealth has surged by an estimated $500 million in the same period, representing a remarkable 38.5% increase in just eight months.

The prominent investor, who serves as Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria, has diversified his investments across commodities, oil and gas, power generation, and financial services. His growing stake in First HoldCo, now exceeding 26%, has been a key driver of his wealth growth. Although Otedola is still $200 million away from the $2 billion milestone, his fortune has been bolstered by strong performance in his investments and strategic acquisitions.

In 2025, he sold his majority stake in Geregu Power for approximately $750 million while retaining a 5% interest in the company. Despite his immense wealth, Otedola has expressed his investment threshold generally above 51%, suggesting a potential long-term plan to achieve majority control of First HoldCo. Otedola's increasing net worth has garnered public attention, earning him recognition as Activist Investor and Market Maker of the Year in 2025 by Nairametrics and Investor of the Year 2024 by The Nation newspaper.