Farooq Oreagba, widely known as the “King of Steeze” for his impeccable style at the Ojude Oba Festival, has disclosed a bitter chapter from his past. On Ebuka Obi-Uchendu’s MENtality show, co-hosted by Banky W, Oreagba revealed that he was a dollar millionaire at 30 but ended up working as a labourer in England at 35.
The MENtality show offers a candid forum for African personalities to explore mental and emotional resilience, and Oreagba’s story fit that brief perfectly. He openly discussed how losing his banking job sent him into a spiral of trying to preserve a lifestyle that had consumed his identity.
Wealth, Satisfaction, and the $10 Million Test
In a thought-provoking segment, Oreagba pressed Ebuka on whether any amount of money could truly bring satisfaction. When Ebuka said he wasn't chasing it, Oreagba proposed a hypothetical offer of $10 million. Ebuka joked that he would accept from Miami, but Oreagba added that the recipient would have only 24 hours to live. Ebuka quickly turned down the offer, saying his life was worth more.
That exchange served as a prelude to Oreagba's personal confession. He explained that after losing his job as a banker, he was determined to maintain the life he had built, even if it meant doing menial work in a foreign land.
“At 35, I Was Working as a Labourer”
“I was a dollar millionaire at 30, at 35 I was working as a labourer in England. I had my dream and all that, then I lost my job as a banker. To maintain that lifestyle I was hustling, doing all kinds of stuff… I had my priorities wrong,” Oreagba said.
He went on to note that chasing wealth without the right mindset can lead anyone astray. He added that too many people fall into the trap of putting money above the things that genuinely matter in life, such as health, relationships, and personal fulfillment.
Online Reactions to the Confession
Social media quickly picked up on Oreagba’s story. Users drew inspiration from the way he rebuilt his life and achieved recognition as a style icon later in life.
@Lizyung001 wrote: “Life really humbles you. Dollar millionaire at 30, labourer at 35, and now at 60+ he became the face of Ojude Oba and a style icon. The comeback is always stronger than the setback. Never write yourself off.”
@NovaAsks commented: “When you set priorities wrong we will always come this and one thing about someone that has set a standard of how people should see them it's always hard to let people know you have gone broke.”
Others expressed astonishment at the lengths people go to for status. @BlueSideOtaku said: “The things Nigerians do to maintain lifestyle is crazy.” @dygoodchild remarked: “Ahhh Motivational Speaker ??? That's interesting nevertheless.” @tosin_olarewaju added: “All in all. Your live will always be valuable than money.” @CoinsCriteria summed it up: “Omo this world is deep more than what we can imagine, since I realized I don't blame anyone that fall short after getting rich, cos money comes and goes.”
Rebuilding: The Ojude Oba Success Story
Oreagba’s later achievements show that a setback can become a setup for a comeback. According to earlier reports by Legit.ng, he played a pivotal role in expanding the Ojude Oba festival, attracting over N2 billion in sponsorships and endorsements and injecting roughly $10 million into the Ijebu economy. He attributed the surge to his 2024 Airtel endorsement, which opened doors to partnerships with Goldberg, Polo Avenue, and other major brands.
Today, Oreagba remains a celebrated cultural ambassador and fashion icon. His candidness about his past has endeared him to many, and his message is clear: a life well-lived holds far greater value than wealth that can vanish overnight.
