Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has sparked conversations in the entertainment industry with his bold claim that no actress can afford a Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, popularly called a G-Wagon, solely from acting.
Solade, who is known for his outspoken nature and decades of experience in the Nigerian film industry, made the remark during a recent appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast.
The actor explained that the Nigerian film industry does not generate enough income from acting jobs to support such lavish purchases.
In his words, Solade stated:
“It is possible from producing, but not from acting, except they have a side hustle, because how much are they going to pay you for acting, 50 million? Then again, some are gifts, I want to believe so. Yes now, dem fit gift person G-Wagon.”
The veteran actor argued that the financial reality of Nollywood is very different from the glamorous lifestyle often portrayed by some of its stars.
He maintained that while successful producers and actors with business ventures may be able to afford luxury vehicles, the average actor cannot make enough from acting alone to buy a G-Wagon, which can cost anywhere between ₦200 million and ₦300 million in Nigeria.
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Solade’s comments have reignited the long-standing debate about the financial state of Nollywood and the source of income of some of its biggest stars.
Many social media users have weighed in, with some agreeing with Solade’s position that the film industry’s pay structure is still too modest to support such extravagant lifestyles.
Others, however, have argued that some top-tier actors earn significant fees from brand endorsements, ambassadorial deals, and social media influencing, all of which can supplement acting income and make such purchases possible.
This is not the first time Solade has stirred conversations with his candid remarks. He recently made headlines when he revealed that his life became “better” after he stopped attending church, a comment that sparked widespread reactions online.
Yemi Solade, who has been active in the Nigerian movie industry for decades, has built a reputation for being vocal about the realities of Nollywood, from its pay scale to its challenges with funding, distribution, and professionalism.
His latest comments also highlight a broader conversation about Nollywood’s economic structure. Despite being Africa’s largest film industry in terms of output, many actors have repeatedly complained about low pay compared to their counterparts in Hollywood or Bollywood.
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Producers often operate on tight budgets, with films sometimes being shot in weeks rather than months, leaving little room for high actor salaries.
The situation has forced many stars to diversify into other businesses, from fashion and beauty lines to real estate and content creation, to sustain the luxury lifestyles often associated with celebrity status.
For Solade, the conversation is not about shaming colleagues but about being realistic about the financial realities of acting. His message seems to encourage transparency and to remind upcoming actors that fame does not always equal wealth.
“There is nothing wrong in having side hustles or multiple streams of income,” a fan commented under a clip from the podcast. “At least he is telling the truth so that upcoming actors won’t think it’s just acting that funds all these cars.”
Whether one agrees with Solade or not, his comments shed light on the economic struggles of many Nollywood actors and the need for better pay structures and more sustainable funding models within the industry.
