On Monday, the 44-year-old singer earned the status after a highly profitable 2025 driven by her Cowboy Carter album, a world tour, and business ventures, making her the fifth musician to become a billionaire, alongside Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna.

The magazine said Beyoncé’s financial leap followed years of steady growth, highlighted by the Renaissance World Tour in 2023, which grossed nearly $600 million, and the Cowboy Carter Tour in 2025, which generated more than $400 million in ticket sales and an estimated $50 million in merchandise revenue.

Forbes reported that Beyoncé earned an estimated $148 million in 2025 before taxes, ranking her as the world’s third-highest paid musician for the year.

Much of her wealth stems from her decision to take full control of her career through Parkwood Entertainment, the company she founded in 2010. Parkwood manages and produces her music, films and tours, allowing her to retain ownership rights and higher profit margins.

“When I decided to manage myself, it was important that I didn’t go to some big management company,” Beyoncé said in a 2013 interview. “I felt like I wanted to follow the footsteps of Madonna and be a powerhouse and have my own empire.”

Beyond music, Beyoncé has expanded into other ventures, including hair care brand Cécred, whiskey label SirDavis and her former clothing line Ivy Park. However, Forbes noted that the bulk of her wealth still comes from music, particularly stadium tours and ownership of her catalogue.

The Cowboy Carter Tour featured large-scale production elements and a mini-residency model across nine stadiums in the US and Europe, enabling 32 shows with reduced logistical costs. The tour involved more than 350 crew members and extensive equipment, including cargo planes and hundreds of trucks.

In addition to touring, Beyoncé earned major sums from a Netflix Christmas Day NFL halftime show, estimated at $50 million, including production costs, and endorsement deals such as Levi’s commercials, reportedly worth $10 million.

Despite lower album-equivalent sales compared to some pop peers in 2025, Forbes said Beyoncé’s ability to sell out stadiums continues to set her apart in an industry where touring accounts for the majority of artists’ income.

Beyoncé previously made history as the first female artist to headline an all-stadium tour in 2016 and later released concert films for both Homecoming and Renaissance, the latter earning nearly half of its $44 million global box office gross.

In recent interviews, Beyoncé has said Renaissance and Cowboy Carter are part of a trilogy of genre-spanning albums, though she has signalled a more selective approach to touring in the future to prioritise her family.

“I have made an extreme effort to stay true to my boundaries and protect myself and my family,” she said. “No amount of money is worth my peace.”

A former national auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Paul Chukwuma, has formally joined the race for Anambra governorship with a promise to prioritise human capital, infrastructural developments and security.

Chukwuma, who is aspiring on the platform of the ruling APC, said he has no fears but rather 100 percent chance to clinged the party’s ticket and emerge victorious at the main pools.
Speaking through the director general of his Primary Election Campaign Council, Hon. Ifeanyichukwu

Ibezi, the guber hopeful said he had contributed significantly to progress of the party and done extensive consultations which would earn him the governorship ticket.

The director general, who spoke with journalists after purchasing the N50 million worth APC’s expression of interest and nominations at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, said:”I can comfortably tell you that we don’t have any fears and his chances are 100%.

“Sir Paul Chukwuma is a party man.

He has done so much for this party. The party, being the purpose-vehicle upon which he will ride on to achieve his ambition and also give victory to our party.

“He started by putting every effort in place to ensure this purpose vehicle is put to use, and he did that by paying for all the 326 ward offices, 21 local government offices of the party and giving the party at the state level a brand new office very close to the Government House. The office is strategically positioned that APC, the biggest party in Africa is prepared to take Anambra State come November 8, 2025.

“Recall that in every election circle, there’s a standard that one week or few days to the election, the IGP would order all the vigilantes to submit their arms to the police headquarters in that state. So we have no doubt, its an existing practice and that’s what’s going to happen. Our major concern is to bring victory and win the election for party.

“Having picked his nomination form, I will also let you know that Sir Paul Chukwuma has already gotten himself ready to contest for this office. He has his agenda, a concise agenda and he says it’s going to be on a three cardinal points agenda. And when you compress it together, we tag it ‘HIS’.

“HIS means – human capital developments, infrastructural developments and security. These are the three major reasons why he decided to contest for the Governorship position.

“There are other enablers in these three core cardinal points and I believe by the time we conclude our primary elections, he would have the privilege of launching his manifestos and begin the process of addressing the people of Anambra State on his core mission to become the governor of the state,” the director general said.

The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has formally joined the Anambra state governorship race as a group known as Anambra Coalition for Progressives Change purchased the N50 million All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms for the political economist.

In his remarks while receiving the forms, Okonkwo said if APC nominate him to fly its flag in the November 8, 2025 polls the party will win landslide in the election.

According to him, the people of Anambra were distraught with the present of Governor Charles Soludu and were yearning for leader with impeccable credentials like him to take over the affairs of the southeast state.

The APC governorship aspirant alleged that Soludo was spending so much in Abuja to prevent him from flying the ticket of the APC against him because “he knows I am the candidate to beat.”

“I am calling on all those who are not happy with what is going on in Anambra state to emulate this gesture. For those who have not joined this coalition, please, this is a wake-up call.

“The man who is already boasting that he will match any kobo to kobo, dollar to dollar in any currency. Yet we are aware that he is not receiving salary as the governor of Anambra state.

“We are aware that having been a professor retired and CBN governor. Whatever his retirement benefits or pension are not for him to buy this form (nomination form).

“I have picked the form. I am prepared for the battle. We may not have the control of having the ticket but the only thing we know we control is that with the ticket in our hands, we will give a landslide victory to APC.

“I am from the central senatorial zone of Anambra state. Central senatorial zone has seven local government areas and it is home to over 60 percent of all the votes in Anambra state. And that votes are domiciled majorly in Idemili north. I am from Idemili north.

“We are coming and we are going to rescue you from the hands of a pontifical leader and then reverse all the bad trends and lead Anambra to the path of development and security.“

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Cyril Ezeani, said the group raised the sum of N50 million for the nomination and expression of interest forms for Okonkwo because he is the most competent aspirant to lead the state.

“It is simply because we have the interest of our state at heart. Chwukwuma Soludo has not given us what we want. Therefore, in the search to get somebody capable of providing for Anambra and the state, we found Okonkwo.

“We are looking forward to an individual that has a track record and pedigree to get our state to its first position. That is why after a careful analysis, we decided that the right person to occupy that post from next year is professor Obiora Okonkwo,” he added.

A popular entertainer and entrepreneur, Obinna Simon popularly known as as MC Tagwaye has joined in the race for the next chairmanship of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will between this year and early next year conduct chairmanship election in the nation’s capital along with governorship election in Anambra and by-elections into some federal constituencies.

With the campaign slogan, “AMAC Must Be Better Again”, MC Tagwaye announced his decision to join the race in a social media post at the weekend.

“I wish to formally announce my interest to run for the office of Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC Chairman”, he stated.

Popular among young people who constitute a larger percentage of voters in the Federal Capital Territory, Tagwaye said the decision to join in the race is on response to the overwhelming call by residents of the Area Council.

“I am running for this office because of the call from the good people and residents of AMAC, I am running for this office because I know the values I am bringing to the table to make AMAC great again.

“Great in security, job creation, digitization of the city center, prompt security response to emergency calls, close visual monitoring and communication system of every part of AMAC, upgrade of our schools
and hospitals, prompt payment of primary school teachers entitlements and the general welfare of all the workers in AMAC and many more that the campaign council when set up will reveal in due time”, he stated further.

He further acknowledged the numerous support of residents of the nation’s capital to his brand, expressing hope that same will be replicated at the polls this year.

He is credited with honing the skills of young people in various endeavours of life, especially in the entertainment sector.

Also a philanthropist, he is credited with numerous philanthropic and humanitarian campaigns in the nation’s capital where he has given several scholarships, renovated several schools and donated funds and relief materials to residents.

The primary election is expected to hold in June 2025 while the general elections hold February 2026.

Tagwaye said he will in coming days announce the political party under which he seeks to run for the election next year.

The member representing Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji has defected from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Magaji announced his defection from the main opposition to the ruling party in a letter read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen(APC, Kaduna) at resumed plenary on Tuesday.

The chairman, House committee on Health Care Services and leader of the Kaduna caucus in the Green Chamber said his defection was informed by unresolved crisis in PDP from national to all levels.

His defection brought the total number of PDP lawmakers who defected to APC in the 10th House to four. The previous defectors include; Hon. Chris Nkwonta(Abia), Hon. Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu(Delta) and Hon. Suleiman Gumi (Zamfara).

The minority leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP Rivers) who objected to Magaji’s defection, asked Speaker Abbas to declare the lawmaker’s seat vacant.

 

Meanwhile, speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has announced the elevation of Hon. Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim (APC, Ogun) as the new deputy chief of the Green Chamber.

 

Abbas who made the announcement at resumed plenary on Tuesday, said Isiaka was recommended for the position after extensive consultation with the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), South-west Caucus in the House and other stakeholders.

 

“After extensive consultations with the All Progressive Congress leadership, APC caucus and other stakeholders from the South-west, the leadership of the House has received and accepted the recommendation of Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim to serve as the deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives.

 

“Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim succeeds our dear colleague, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga who sadly passed away earlier this year. We congratulate Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim on this well elevation…,” the speaker said.

 

LEADERSHIP reports that the position of the House deputy chief whip became vacant as a result of the death of the last occupant, Hon. Onanuga on January 15, 2025, who until her demise, represented  Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun state.

 

The report added that amongst the many lawmakers from south-west that lobbied for the position, Isiaka who is the member representing Ifo/Ewekoro was favoured for being from Ogun just as the late Onanuga.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has joined the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.

Kennedy joined Nollywood a few months after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu.

DAILY POST reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as minister in August 2023, and removed alongside four others in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024.

The 51-year-old politician has now shifted her focus to filmmaking barely four months after her removal from the cabinet.

Announcing her acting career on her X handle, the former minister shared a video of her latest project.

Kennedy who is also a lawyer and entrepreneur, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 and emerged the party’s first female presidential aspirant in 2023, before ultimately withdrawing to support Tinubu.

 

 

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Adekunle Gold, has joined Bobo Omotayo and award-winning filmmaker, Abba Makama, as co-producer for the upcoming music documentary ‘The Odyssey’.

 

Currently in production, ‘The Odyssey’ chronicles the history, evolution of Yoruba music, and its various subculture like Were, Sakara, Apala, Juju, Afro Juju, Fuji, among others, to the present, whilst highlighting its significant and impact to Afrobeats.

 

The documentary will feature sounds, images and interview segments with Nigeria’s music legends, record label owners, chart-topping artistes, producers, and music journalists both past and present.

 

Adekunle Gold brings to the project his background of highlife, folk storytelling; his capacity to infuse Afropop with Afrobeats, Fuji, Juju, R&B and Amapiano and his networks from collaborations with diverse African and International artistes to play.

 

Enthused by the artiste’s involvement, Makama (Green White Green 2016, The Last Okoroshi 2019) said, “Working with these producers, each with their own backgrounds and perspectives has enlivened the creative process. We’ve already captured some incredibly fascinating interviews, and Adekunle Gold’s involvement adds a new dynamic layer to the story.”

 

“Our goal from the start has been to make a documentary that gives justice to Yoruba music by showcasing its essence. Our dedication to genuine and diverse storytelling is strengthened by Adekunle Gold’s addition to our team,” said Omotayo.

 

For his part, the artiste noted that beyond just another project, The Odyssey, aims at highlighting the history of a sound that has shaped and will continue to shape music culture around the world. “Working with the rest of the team, I can’t wait to bring this story to life with authenticity, energy and enthusiasm.”

 

Additionally, The White House Production team is also open to innovative collaborations on the documentary, in the manner of photographer Andrew Esiebo – who as part of the crew captures unique and intimate moments with the documentary’s subjects both in private and onstage settings.

 

Esiebo’s photographs on the documentary will be exhibited in same time as The Odyssey’s premiere, on a later to be announced date, to offer audiences a visual auditory experience that honours the essence of Yoruba music.

Zone, Africa’s fastest-growing payment infrastructure company, has announced that PalmPay, one of Africa’s leading fintech platforms for payment, has joined its decentralised payment network.

This integration with Zone’s regulated blockchain network for payment enables PalmPay to fortify its payment capabilities, ensuring reliable, secure, and compliant transactions across its extensive network of 1,200,000 agents and merchants.

By joining Zone’s regulated blockchain network, PalmPay is positioned to redefine the payment experience for its over 35 million users, delivering superior capabilities that set a new standard for point of sale payments and a new benchmark for the payment industry as a whole.

The partnership empowers PalmPay to streamline its operations, eliminate points of failure and provide its customers with the assurance of fast and frictionless payments.

Co-founder and CEO of Zone, Obi Emetarom, remarked on the partnership: “We are thrilled to welcome PalmPay to our payment network. Their hugely successful approach of becoming a market leader by delivering superior payment experiences aligns nicely with Zone’s focus on providing a reliable, and frictionless yet secure and compliant payment network. With our infrastructure, PalmPay is set to boost its value proposition to its customers and expand its lead in the market.”

With over 35 million users, PalmPay is committed to consistently enhancing the quality of its payment services. By integrating with Zone’s regulated blockchain network, PalmPay automatically gains key advantages that set it apart in the industry. The advantages include; Direct Transaction Routing, End-to-End Transparency, and Same-Day Settlement.

In addition, PalmPay will remain fully compliant with regulatory guidelines for PoS transaction processing. This compliance is enabled by the recent partnership between Zone and NIBSS to perform PTSA functions using blockchain technology and reinforced by CBN’s endorsement of the new arrangement —. With this foundation, PalmPay strengthens its commitment to reliable and frictionless payments while remaining fully compliant with all relevant regulations.

The move is a natural progression in PalmPay’s journey as it continues to solidify its leadership and prepare for an ambitious phase of growth. By integrating with Zone’s network, PalmPay gains a powerful competitive edge, positioning itself at the forefront of the industry and setting the stage for the next wave of expansion.

Forward-thinking decisions like these have fueled PalmPay’s remarkable rise, and integrating with Zone further strengthens its commitment to staying ahead; leading the way in reliable, and compliant payments for millions across Africa.

Managing Director at PalmPay Nigeria, Chika Nwosu, said: “Our partnership with Zone marks an exciting step in our mission to deliver exceptional financial solutions. By leveraging Zone’s blockchain-powered infrastructure, we’re reinforcing the reliability and speed of our transactions success rate of 99.5%, allowing us to better serve our customers and set a new standard in digital finance.”

LEADERSHIP reports that Zone is a regulated blockchain network that enables payments and acceptance of digital currencies.