When you think of Nollywood royalty, Femi Adebayo’s name inevitably comes up. This lawyer-turned-actor has created out his own impressive legacy in the Nigerian film industry, going from a child actor in the 1980s to one of Netflix’s most successful Yoruba-language producers today.
Born into the entertainment world and raised in the bustling streets of Lagos, Femi has spent nearly four decades perfecting his craft. His recent blockbuster productions have shattered box office records and dominated global streaming charts. But who exactly is the man behind hits like Jagun Jagun and King of Thieves? Let’s go into his Adebayo’s journey.
Biography
Femi Adebayo Salami was born on 31st December 1972 in Lagos State, Nigeria. His family roots, however, trace back to Pakata Oloje in Ilorin, Kwara State. He’s the son of the legendary Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, a veteran actor who’s been in the industry since 1964. His mother, Alhaja Risikat Ejide, works in film marketing.
Growing up in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Femi was one of 18 children in a large polygamous family. That’s right, nine sons and nine daughters! Several of his siblings followed their father into entertainment. His brother Tope Adebayo became a film director who now co-directs most of Femi’s major productions, whilst Sodiq runs Blackman Entertainment as a production manager.
Despite being surrounded by the glitz of Nollywood, Femi’s parents ensured he got a solid education. He attended Jender Age Nursery and Primary School in Lagos before completing his secondary education at C&S College, Ilorin, and Oke-Ode Grammar School, where he served as Senior Prefect during the 1992/93 academic session.
Femi then pursued law at the University of Ilorin, graduating with an LL.B in 2002. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2003 and went on to earn his LL.M from the University of Ibadan in 2008. Although he’s a qualified lawyer, he practised for only about two years before fully committing to filmmaking.
Career
Femi’s acting career began when he was just 13 years old. He made his debut in his father’s first produced film, Ogun Ajaye, in 1985. Watching his dad on television had sparked something in him, and Oga Bello nurtured that passion into a full-fledged career.
His breakthrough came with Owo Blow in 1995, directed by Tade Ogidan. By 1996, he’d already won the Best Upcoming Actor of the Year award. He fully committed to filmmaking in 2006 after producing Idanwo.
Femi’s prowess really shone through in the Jelili franchise, which he wrote himself. The 2019 sequel, Survival of Jelili, directed by Desmond Elliot, later became available on Netflix. He’s also appeared in notable films like October 1 (2014) and Mokalik (2019), both directed by Kunle Afolayan.
However, it’s his recent work as a producer that’s truly elevated him. In 2021, he founded Euphoria360 Media Limited, which has since produced some of Nollywood’s biggest hits. King of Thieves (Agesinkole) in 2022 became the highest-grossing Nollywood film that year, raking in over ₦320 million at the box office. King of Thieves 2 (Agesinkole 2) is showing in Nigerian community cinemas through a partnership with Circuits TV.
Then came Jagun Jagun (The Warrior) in August 2023. Femi reportedly sold personal properties to finance this multi-billion naira production. That’s quite a gamble, isn’t it? But it paid off spectacularly. The film accumulated 3.7 million viewing hours globally within its first week on Netflix and ranked among the Top 10 non-English films worldwide, reaching the Top 10 in 18 countries within 48 hours.
Seven Doors (December 2024), a Netflix limited series about a cursed king who must marry seven wives, debuted at number one on Netflix Nigeria. The series marked his directorial debut alongside regular collaborators Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani.
Her Excellency, a political thriller honouring his father’s 60 years in Nollywood, was released on 4th July 2025 and has 6.2/10 ratings on IMDb.
Awards and Recognition
Femi’s trophy cabinet is quite impressive. Recent accolades include:
- AMAA 2024: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jagun Jagun
- AMVCA 2025: Best Lead Actor for Seven Doors
- Best of Nollywood 2024: Six awards for Jagun Jagun, including Best Actor and Best Indigenous Film
- Best of Nollywood 2025: Four awards for Seven Doors, including Best Series
He’s also a four-time Best Yoruba Actor winner at the African Film Awards in London.
Outside Acting
Femi served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Arts, Culture, and Tourism from 2016 to 2019 under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The role involved promoting Kwara’s cultural heritage and strengthening the creative economy.
In 2008, he founded the J-15 School of Performing Arts in Mokola, Ibadan. Named after his first child’s birthday (15th July), the school has graduated over 800 individuals in disciplines ranging from acting to cinematography, editing, and makeup artistry. Notable alumni include actress Aisha Lawal, who played Jemila in the Jelili series.
Personal Life
Femi’s personal life has had its share of ups and downs. He met his first wife, Khadijat Bukola Adebayo, at the University of Ilorin in 1998. She was studying Computer Science whilst he was in his third year of law. They dated for six years before marrying in 2004.
The marriage produced three children: daughter Firdaus Niniola Adebayo and twin sons Fadlullah and Fadulrahman. However, the couple divorced around 2008. Femi has publicly stated that the primary issue was his wife’s discomfort with his acting profession, particularly romantic roles.
There were rumours linking him romantically to actress Funke Akindele during this period, but Femi firmly denied any affair. He stated publicly that Funke had nothing to do with the marriage breakdown.
On 9th October 2016, Femi married Omotayo Maimunat Sanusi in a private Islamic ceremony at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Yaba, Lagos. Omotayo, a former air hostess, now runs an eatery called “Iyan Aladuke” that specialises in pounded yam. They have one son together, bringing Femi’s total to four children.
Net Worth
Femi Adebayo’s net worth is currently estimated at approximately $1–2 million as of 2025. That’s substantial growth from earlier estimates of $500,000–$900,000 in 2022, thanks to the commercial success of his blockbuster productions and Netflix deals.
His income streams are quite diverse. Acting fees reportedly range from ₦200,000 to ₦400,000 per film, though his producer role on major productions generates substantially more. His production company, Euphoria360 Media Limited, has become a significant income source.
He’s also secured lucrative endorsement deals with major brands including StarTimes (signed January 2022), T. Pumpy Estate (since 2020), Trophy Beer, Kubanah Whiskey (signed July 2022), Samsung, and VG Pensions. He’s also done past campaigns for Coca-Cola and Peak Milk.
