Jim Iyke: Biography, career, movies, net worth, family

Jim Iyke is a Nigerian actor, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, businessman and philanthropist. Known for playing “bad boy” roles, he has risen to be one of the most respected Nollywood stars.

The handsome actor is also known for his no-nonsense attitude and short temper. But these traits have endeared him more to people’s hearts than repelled them. He is what everyone describes as a true Alpha male. Jim Iyke has featured in over 250 movies which have seen him play versatile roles such as criminal, Casanova, lover boy, heartbreaker, loving husband, ritualist, terrible son, arrogant husband, brave heir to the throne etc.

Table of Content hide 1Biography 2Career 2.1Movies 2.2Awards and nominations 3Business interests 4Net worth 5Family 6Conclusion

Biography

Jim Iyke was born James Ikechukwu Esomugha on September 25 1976, in Libreville, Gabon. He is 45 years old. His parents are from Ogwugwu Village in Enugu Agidi town of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. They changed his name from Okolue to Esomugha. Jim Iyke is the only boy out of eight children.

He grew up in Lagos, where he attended primary school. Then he attended secondary school at Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, in 1985, graduating in 1991. While in secondary school, he was an active member of the dramatics club, where he acted in stage plays which helped hone his skills.

Jim Iyke obtained a Diploma in Banking and Finance before getting a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Jos.

Career

Jim Iyke began his acting career in 2001. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Nollywood and has featured in over 250 movies. His handsome look and charming personality made him perfect for bad boy and lover boy roles.

In 2007, Jim Iyke started a movie production company, Untamed Productions. In London, he produced two movies with internationally renowned actresses Judy Shekoni and Tangerine Martins. His most recent production, 2 Dollaz, is a sequel to the most commercially successful Nollywood comic flick abroad 1 Dollar to date. He also produced Shades of White, which is yet to be released but already gaining critical acclaim nationwide.

He also has his music record label, Untamed Records. His debut album Who Am I? featured some of Nigeria’s top musicians, such as TuFace Idibia and the late Sound Sultan. The album earned him a Next Rated nomination for the Headies Award.

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Movies

Jim Iyke is one of the most sought after actors in Nollywood. He has featured in over 250 movies. Some of them are:

• A Better Place (2007)
• 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)
• Power of a King (2010)
• Between Kings and Queens (2010)
• The Mechanic: Who Is The Man (2012)
• Last Flight to Abuja (2012)
• And then there was you (2013)
• When Love Comes Around (2014)
• Learning Curves (2014)
• Palace War (2014)
• Stalker (2016)
• Cruz 2 (2016)
• A Star In Heaven (2016)
• Closure (2017)
• American Driver (2017)
• Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons (2018)
• Seven and a half date (2018)
• Cold Feet (2019)
• Merry Men 2 (2019)
• Cultural Clash (2019)
• The Set-Up (2019)
• Bad Comments (2020)
• Hustle (2021)

Awards and nominations

Jim earned numerous awards and nominations during his career. The awards and nominations are:

• 2008 – Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actor (nominated)
• 2009 – Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Actor (nominated)
• 2009 – Africa Entertainment Award, New York, Best Actor
• 2010 – Africa Movie Academy Awards, Best Actor
• 2010 – Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Best Actor of the Year
• 2010 – Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Sexiest Man in Nigeria
• 2011 – Mode Men Magazine, Best Actor
• 2011 – Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR)
• 2012 – Kampala Nile awards, Entertainment Entrepreneur Award
• 2012 – Screen Nation Award, Best Actor of the Decade
• 2012 – Anambra State Award, Best Actor
• 2015 – Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA), Best Actor
• 2017 – The People’s Film Festival, New York, Festival Prize
• 2019 – Net Honours, Most Popular Actor
• 2021- Net Honours, Most Searched Actor

Business interests

Apart from acting, singing and filmmaking, Jim Iyke is a businessman. His business interests span oil & gas, transportation and an up-scale clientele automobile dealership named Untamed Cars. His business also covers real estate investments and event management. The Anambra State native also has some brand endorsement deals with one of the prominent telecoms companies, Globalcom and Innoson Motors.

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Net worth

Jim Iyke is one of the most successful celebrities in Nigeria. He lives a very lavish lifestyle, and his love for exotic cars is apparent. The cars include the 2020 Dodge Challenger, Mercedes Benz G-Wagon, Range Rover Sport and 2013 Chevrolet Camaro.

Jim Iyke’s total net worth is estimated at N12.48 billion ($30m).

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Family

On April 18 2013, Jim Iyke premiered his reality show Unscripted, which showed the sensational proposal to Ghanaian beauty queen and actress Nadia Buari. Africa Magic and Oh Africa TV jointly sponsored the show. However, both Jim and Nadia are no longer together as the Ghanaian superstar has moved on to another relationship which has produced four children.

Jim Iyke was also in a romantic relationship with Jamaican international model Keturah Hamilton.

After their break up, he moved on to Lithuanian lawyer Dana Kinduryte whom he met in the United States of America. According to sources, Kinduryte had no idea of Jim’s celebrity status in Nigeria when they met. In April 2019, Jim Iyke announced the birth of their son, Harvis Chidubem Iyke. He describes his son as his major motivator and a little replica of himself.

There are rumours that Jim Iyke and Dana Kinduryte secretly wedded in Texas, USA. A few close family and friends attended the wedding.

Conclusion

Jim Iyke has led a very successful life. Apart from his acting and other career pursuits, he founded a nonprofit organisation called the Jim Iyke Foundation. The foundation constantly creates forums and organises walks, symposia and musical/comedy shows to highlight the health and state of being of African children to the world. These shows and campaigns were organised in Ghana, Liberia, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos. Jim Iyke Foundation is regarded as the most successful independently-run celebrity foundation in Nigeria.

Jim Iyke is also known to be controversial. Before he met Dana Kinduryte, his relationship with other celebrities was sensational. In particular, his break up with the international model Keturah was a messy one. Keturah never forgave the actor; she claimed he wasted six years of her life.

His involvement in the purported ‘deliverance’ from an evil spirit at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, led by Pastor T.B. Joshua, was a subject of online gossip. He said the ‘evil spirit’ was why he couldn’t find a wife. On a movie set, his altercation with another actor, Uche Maduagwu, sent the internet into a frenzy. Both later cleared the air that it was a publicity stunt.

Jim Iyke is a ‘bad boy’ after our hearts despite all the controversies. He has enjoyed a successful career and now has a beautiful family of his own.

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