Jim Iyke Biography – Age, Net worth, Acting career, Awards, Family and Lifestyle in 2022
James Ikechukwu Esomugha, popularly known as Jim Iyke, is a renowned Nollywood actor, film director, producer, philanthropist, singer and businessman. He was born on 25 September 1976 in Libreville, Gabon, to Mr. & Mrs Stephen Esomugha, who originally hail from Anambra State. He is the only son in his family, with his other 6 siblings being females.
He had his early education in Gabon, where he attended primary school before moving back to Nigeria to complete his secondary school education at the Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja. Jim Iyke then proceeded to the University of Jos, where he studied Psychology and obtained a diploma in Banking and Finance.
After graduation, Jim Iyke relocated to Lagos to launch his modelling career as a product model for brands. This was where he kick-started his modelling career, which he's still into to date. His zeal and determination to succeed led him to foray into the rapidly burgeoning Nigerian movie industry, popularly called Nollywood. His entrance into Nollywood was the beginning of a journey of winning the hearts of movie followers across Africa and beyond. The rise of Nollywood eventually saw Jim become a fans' favourite, especially in various notorious character roles. He could effortlessly interpret and make his own, earning him the tag of "Nollywood Bad Boy".
Some of his blockbuster movies are;
• American Driver (2017)•Bad Comments (2020)
• Closure (2017)
• A Better Place (2007)
• Hustle (2021)
• Cold Feet (2019)
• Merry Men 2 (2019)
• Cultural Clash (2019)
• The Set-Up (2019)
• Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018)
• Seven and a half date (2018)
• Stalker (2016)
• Cruz 2 (2016)
• A Star In Heaven (2016)
• When Love Comes Around (2014)
• Learning Curves (2014)
• Palace War (2014)
• And then there was you (2013)
• The Mechanic: Who Is The Man (2012)
• Last Flight to Abuja (2012)
• Power of a King (2010)
• Between Kings and Queens (2010)
• Save the Prince 1&2 (2009)
• Royal Madness (2009)
• King of Kings 1,2&3 (2009)
• Eyes of the Nun (2009)
• Heavy Heart 1&2 (2009)
• No Man's Land 1&2 (2009)
He has since made a name for himself, while also known to have appeared in over 150 films. He also recently started his own film production outfit called – "Untamed Productions", which produced two films housing 2 famous internationally recognized actresses – Judy Shekoni and Tangerine Martins in London.
Jim Iyke recently produced "2 Dollaz," a sequel to the most commercially successful Nollywood Comic Flick "1 Dollar" to date. He was a producer/executive producer of the movie "Shades of white". While the movie is yet to be released, it is gaining critical acclaim recognition.
His immense contributions to the Nollywood industry has been rewarded with various awards, including:
- 3x winner "Teenage Choice award."
- Best Actor – "Nigerian Entertainment award."
- African Hollywood award
- African Achievement award
- "People's Film Festival award"
- Best African Actor – "NET awards" in New York
- Best Actor of the year – "Mode Men Awards."
- Most Searched Actor – "NET Honours"
He also has awards and recognitions in other niches, such as; Best Youth Role Model, Sexiest Man in Nigeria (2008), Best Entertainment Entrepreneur and many others.
Outside Nollywood, Iyke is generally regarded as a fashion icon and one of the best dressed African celebrities. His avant-garde sense of style and individuality has endeared him to millions of fans across the continent and in the diaspora.
Iyke is the founder of a non-profit organization called the Jim Iyke Foundation and a pioneer in the movement for better education and well-being for the less privileged children in Africa. The foundation, which is generally considered the most successful independently-run celebrity foundation in Nigeria, is constantly creating forums and organizing walks, symposia, and musical/comedy shows, to highlight the health and state of being of the children of Africa to the world. These shows and campaigns were organized in Ghana, Liberia, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos.
In conjunction with Pepsi, Nikon Hilton Hotel, and Indomi Noodles, the foundation recently organized a 6000-children walk in Abuja against poverty and child illiteracy in Nigeria. He's no doubt one of the most exclusive humanitarians Nigeria has ever seen.
In 2009, Iyke ventured into the music scene to create his own label, "Untamed Records". He subsequently released an album titled "Who Am I", featuring A-list Nigerian music artists 2Face Idibia, Sound Sultan and many others. A large chunk of the proceeds from this album launch was donated to several orphanages.
In a 2021 interview with NET, Jim Iyke revealed that he prefers Davido over Wizkid in all terms.
His business interest spans Oil & Gas transportation, an up-scale clientele Automobile dealership named Untamed Cars, Real estate investments, Event Management, and many brand endorsement deals with one of the prominent telecoms companies, Globalcom.
Jim speaks English and Igbo fluently and passable French. Jim loves to cycle and has travelled worldwide; he is an avid reader of almost every media and loves to write poetry. He also mastered martial art and has earned a Black Belt in Ti Quan Do. As an emerging producer, his new movie "2 Dollaz" premiered last year in several sold-out theatres in New York, Maryland, Philadelphia, Dallas, Minnesota, and London. His latest film, "Shades of white", will soon hit the shelves. Look out for it.
On 21 October, Iyke hosted the "Golden Icons African Movies Awards" (GIAMA) ceremony in Houston, Texas, as the announcement was being made of a one-year reality television series JIM IYKE UNSCRIPTED, jointly sponsored by "Africa Magic" and "Oh Africa TV".
According to celebritynetworth.com, Jim Iyke is estimated to have amassed a fortune of $30 million, and he's rated as not just one of the richest, talented and influential actors in Nigeria but Africa as a whole.