Terry Waya, the Tiv-born Nigerian billionaire socialite and father of Big Brother Naija star Kiddwaya, has commanded Nigeria's luxury spotlight for over three decades. In a 2025 interview with Romanian media personality Oana Irimia, Waya casually claimed a net worth of "maybe about $2.2 billion," a statement that sent Nigerian social media into a frenzy and reminded a new generation exactly who he is.
Early Life and Education of Terry Waya
Born on 3 May 1961 in a village in Benue State, Nigeria, Waya belongs to the Tiv tribe, one of Nigeria's largest ethnic groups predominantly found in the Middle Belt region. He moved to Kaduna at an early age, grew up there, and attended Kaduna Polytechnic before relocating to Abuja. He currently resides in London with his family.
Waya has been a recognisable name in Nigerian society circles since at least 2001. His nickname, "Mr. Versace," reflects his obsession with designer fashion and luxury living.
Business Career and the Banana Island Claim
Waya's first major break allegedly came when he consulted for the company that built the Abuja Hilton (now Transcorp Hilton), which opened in 1987. From there, he positioned himself as a well-connected intermediary for powerful politicians, a role he played from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s. Today, his business interests span agriculture, industry, real estate, transportation, hospitality, and investments, and he serves as Executive Director at GT Carbon.
One of the most remarkable chapters in Waya's career is his claimed role in the development of Lagos's most exclusive address. In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, Waya claimed he played a pivotal role in the discovery of Banana Island, partnering with the Chagoury group to develop the project after a tip from a former minister of works.
"That Banana Island was given to me. Not many people know that I discovered Banana Island. I brought Chagoury to do the project," he said. He got wind of the project when he visited the office of Abdulkarim Adisa, a general and ex-minister for works, who was his friend. During that exchange, he discovered the government was looking for a partner to develop the project before selling it.
Luxury Lifestyle, Cars, and Family
Waya is closely associated with private aviation. His Instagram feed is full of videos of him aboard private jets as he shuttles between London, France, Spain, and other European destinations for events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Madrid Grand Prix. Based on his Instagram posts, Waya has holidayed and yachted on Mykonos before flying a private jet to St Tropez, with a brief stopover in Marbella. His car collection is not known to the public; he does not flaunt cars that much. His focus is firmly on planes, villas, and watches. His mansion, inspired by the iconic fashion house Versace, remains a statement and a symbol.
Waya was married to Susan Waya, described in various profiles as a business analyst, politician, and philanthropist. They have two sons together: Terseer "Kiddwaya" Waya and Daniel Waya. After his marriage to Susan, Waya never remarried and only dated Eno Udoh, a socialite once married to businessman Bisi Olafisoye.
His most famous child is Kiddwaya, born 5 March 1993 in Lagos. Kiddwaya rose to national fame as a contestant on Big Brother Naija season five, the 2020 "Lockdown" edition, and returned for the "All Stars" edition in 2023. During his Big Brother Naija run, Kiddwaya candidly told a fellow housemate, "I didn't get much love from home; my dad only gives money."
Net Worth and Recent Recognition
In the 2025 interview with Oana Irimia, Waya was asked point-blank about his wealth. Irimia asked, "What is your net worth as of today?" Waya responded, "Maybe about 2.2 billion dollars." Third-party estimates, however, differ significantly. The businessman is estimated to be the richest man in Benue State as of 2025, with a net worth of about $300 million. His wealth has not been verified by any reliable publications like Forbes.
His known income sources and assets include agriculture, industry, and investment portfolios; his Executive Director role at GT Carbon; real estate including involvement in Banana Island development; a luxurious villa in Mykonos, Greece, a grand mansion in Nigeria, and a high-class property in London; and regular access to private jets across Europe.
In May 2025, at the Cannes Film Festival, Waya received a special award for his humanitarian and philanthropic work. Writing on Instagram after receiving the award, he described it as a "special award in recognition of my humanitarian deeds at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival." He was also separately honoured in Bucharest, Romania, for philanthropic gestures and service to humanity.
He resurfaced in public consciousness during his son Kiddwaya's Big Brother Naija fame in 2020 and again in June 2025, following his son's infamous fundraiser for Benue massacre victims. Many did not understand why the son of one of Nigeria's most flamboyant billionaires was asking the public for money. The backlash reopened questions about privilege, visibility, and generosity in public.
