Music executive Paul Okoye, popularly known as Paulo, has shared his opinion on who he believes is the wealthiest Afrobeats artist in Nigeria, naming Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy as the industry’s biggest earner.
Speaking during an Instagram Live session with media personality Daddy Freeze, Paulo claimed that Burna Boy’s earnings over the past few years have surpassed those of every other Nigerian music star.
“The only person that is really making ridiculous money is Burna Boy. If Burna Boy didn’t make money four years ago, he made at least $80 million to $100 million. He is the richest. If he didn’t make that much last year, then he made at least $70 million to $80 million,” he said.
Paulo also attributed the singer’s financial success to what he described as Burna Boy’s lean management structure, noting that only a handful of family members are directly involved in managing his career.
“The good thing about him is that he has a small unit of people. His mum, sister, and his mum’s brother, they are not up to eight people. Every other person is a contractor. He is on another level,” he added.
While Paulo’s figures have not been independently verified, his comments have reignited conversations about the business side of Afrobeats, with many fans debating which Nigerian artists generate the highest revenues from international tours, endorsements, streaming, and music catalogues. Others praised Burna Boy’s management model, suggesting that maintaining a lean team could be one of the factors contributing to his sustained global success.