Whitemoney is a Nigerian reality TV personality, businessman, singer and songwriter who became widely known after winning the sixth season of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) in 2021. His story has attracted attention because of his difficult early years, entrepreneurial journey, love for cooking and eventual rise to national fame.
But who is Whitemoney outside the BBNaija house? What is Whitemoney’s real name, how old is he, what is his educational background, what businesses does he own, and how much is Whitemoney worth?
This biography provides a straightforward look at Whitemoney’s background, career, education, businesses, entertainment journey and wealth.
Whitemoney Profile
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Real name | Hazel Oyeze Onou |
| Popular name | Whitemoney |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of origin | Enugu State |
| Heritage | Igbo |
| Profession | Reality TV personality, businessman, singer and songwriter |
| Known for | Winning Big Brother Naija Season 6 |
| Date of birth | June 6, 1991, according to his official biography |
| Age in 2026 | 35 years |
| Education | O-Level/NECO |
| Residence | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Major career breakthrough | BBNaija Season 6 victory in 2021 |
There are conflicting dates of birth published online. Whitemoney’s current official website and electronic press kit give June 6, 1991, while several older third-party biographies have reported 1992. For this reason, the official biography is the more appropriate reference when discussing his age.
Who Is Whitemoney?
Whitemoney, whose real name is Hazel Oyeze Onou, is a Nigerian entertainer and entrepreneur. He gained nationwide recognition after participating in the sixth season of Big Brother Naija, popularly known as Shine Ya Eye.
During the reality show, Whitemoney became particularly popular for his cooking skills, cheerful personality, business-minded attitude and ability to connect with other housemates and viewers.
His popularity reached its peak when he was announced as the winner of BBNaija Season 6 on October 3, 2021. His victory transformed him from a relatively unknown entrepreneur and aspiring entertainer into a major Nigerian celebrity.
Whitemoney later returned to the Big Brother Naija franchise as a contestant in the All Stars edition in 2023.
Beyond reality television, he has pursued music and several business interests. His career demonstrates how entertainment exposure can create opportunities for people who already have entrepreneurial ambitions.
Whitemoney’s Early Life
Whitemoney’s early life was not one of instant wealth or celebrity.
According to accounts he has shared publicly, he grew up in different parts of Nigeria, including the northern region. He has described himself as being born in Kano and spending important formative years in Kaduna. He also identifies with the Igbo heritage of Enugu State.
His childhood and young-adult years were shaped by financial difficulties. In an interview with The Guardian Nigeria, Whitemoney spoke openly about moving around the country and eventually spending time in Lagos while trying to find opportunities.
He has also discussed periods when he did not have stable accommodation and had to survive through different forms of work.
These experiences became an important part of the story that viewers later connected with when they watched him on BBNaija.
Rather than following one traditional career path, Whitemoney tried several occupations while searching for ways to make a living. His early experiences included work connected with photography, barbering, generator repairs, telecommunications and other forms of entrepreneurship.
He eventually developed an interest in buying and selling products, including imported shoes.
What Is Whitemoney’s Real Name?
Whitemoney’s real name is Hazel Oyeze Onou.
He is widely known by his stage name, Whitemoney, particularly in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
The nickname became strongly associated with him after his rise to prominence through Big Brother Naija. He has also been associated with the name “Mazi” in some public profiles and social media discussions.
Although many people first discovered him through reality television, Whitemoney had already been involved in business and entertainment activities before entering the BBNaija house.
How Old Is Whitemoney?
Whitemoney was born on June 6, 1991, according to his current official biography.
That makes him 35 years old in 2026.
However, readers may notice that some websites give 1992 as his birth year. This discrepancy has existed across online biographies for years. Because celebrity biography websites sometimes copy information from one another without an original source, it is better to distinguish between independently reported information and information published by the celebrity’s official platform.
Based on the date currently published on Whitemoney’s official website and electronic press kit, June 6, 1991 is the date used in this biography.
Where Is Whitemoney From?
Whitemoney is associated with Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria and identifies as Igbo.
At the same time, his life story has strong connections to northern Nigeria. His official biography says he was born in Kano and spent his formative years in Kaduna.
This explains why different online biographies have sometimes listed different locations when discussing his birthplace.
His upbringing across different parts of Nigeria has also influenced his personality and outlook. Before becoming a household name, he experienced different environments and worked in several fields while building his career.
Today, he is primarily associated with Lagos because of his entertainment and business activities.
Whitemoney’s Education
Whitemoney does not have a university degree.
He has publicly explained that his formal education ended at the O-Level/NECO stage. In an interview, he said he completed secondary school and performed well in his NECO examination.
Whitemoney has explained that financial difficulties were a major reason he did not continue to university. Instead of pursuing higher education, he began looking for ways to support himself financially.
This part of his story is particularly important because his career demonstrates that formal education and career success do not always follow the same path.
It is important, however, not to interpret his story as an argument against education. Whitemoney’s experience simply shows that people can take different routes through life when circumstances prevent them from following a conventional academic path.
He has also spoken about learning through experience, business and exposure to different people.
How Did Whitemoney Become Famous?
Whitemoney became nationally famous after entering Big Brother Naija Season 6 in July 2021.
The season featured several Nigerian entertainers and aspiring personalities competing for the grand prize and the public’s attention.
Inside the BBNaija house, Whitemoney became particularly recognised for his cooking. He frequently prepared food for other housemates, and his kitchen activities became one of the most discussed parts of his time on the programme.
His personality also helped him build a large following.
At the end of the competition, Whitemoney emerged as the winner after receiving the highest share of the final vote. Contemporary reports put his final vote share at about 47 percent.
His victory came with a major prize package reported at approximately ₦90 million, making the BBNaija win a significant turning point in his financial and public life.
Whitemoney’s Business Career
Business has been part of Whitemoney’s life long before he became famous.
Before BBNaija, he tried several occupations and small-business activities. His journey included barbering, commercial photography, generator-related work and telecommunications-related jobs.
One of the businesses most closely associated with his pre-BBNaija story is the importation and sale of shoes.
He has also spoken publicly about other business interests, including wine and footwear.
Whitemoney’s business journey is important because it shows that his career did not begin with television. He was already trying different ways to make money before reality television introduced him to a much larger audience.
After becoming famous, his public profile created opportunities in entertainment, advertising, personal branding and other commercial activities.
Whitemoney and Cooking
Cooking became one of Whitemoney’s strongest trademarks during BBNaija.
His cooking skills were not simply a reality-show gimmick. He has explained that cooking was a genuine passion that he developed partly through his mother.
His ability to prepare meals for other housemates helped make him memorable to viewers.
The popularity of his cooking also created an interesting part of his post-BBNaija career. While many reality stars are primarily known for fashion, social media or entertainment appearances, Whitemoney became associated with cooking and food culture as part of his public identity.
However, he has also made it clear that being able to cook does not automatically mean that someone should operate a restaurant. This distinction is important when discussing his business interests.
Whitemoney’s Music Career
Whitemoney is also a singer and songwriter.
Before and after Big Brother Naija, he released music and worked to establish himself as an entertainer beyond reality television.
Some of the songs associated with his music career include “Rosemary,” “Your Life,” “My Heart,” “Iffy,” “Na We-We” and “Selense.”
His music career became more visible after BBNaija because his large audience gave him a ready platform for promoting new releases.
His official website continues to present music as an important part of his professional identity and features his releases and latest projects.
Whitemoney’s transition into music also reflects a broader pattern among Nigerian reality TV personalities, many of whom use television exposure as a launchpad for other entertainment careers.
Whitemoney’s Net Worth
One of the most searched questions about the celebrity is: What is Whitemoney’s net worth?
The honest answer is that there is no independently verified public figure that can reliably establish Whitemoney’s current net worth in 2026.
Several entertainment and biography websites have published different estimates over the years. Some have placed his wealth at hundreds of thousands of US dollars, while others have given figures in Nigerian naira. These estimates often differ significantly and are not accompanied by audited financial statements or verifiable documentation.
Therefore, it would be misleading to present one online estimate as a confirmed fact.
What can be established is that Whitemoney’s financial position changed significantly after his BBNaija victory in 2021. He won a prize package reported at about ₦90 million, and his public profile subsequently expanded through entertainment, music, business and brand opportunities.
His sources of potential income have included:
- BBNaija prize winnings
- Business activities
- Product and brand partnerships
- Music
- Entertainment appearances
- Social media and promotional activities
- Other entrepreneurial ventures
It is also important to remember that net worth is not the same as income. A person’s net worth takes into account assets, investments, businesses and liabilities. Without access to complete financial records, any exact figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed fact.
What Businesses Does Whitemoney Own?
Whitemoney has been involved in different business ventures over the years.
His entrepreneurial background includes shoe importing and sales, while he has also discussed interests in wine and other commercial activities.
Before fame, he worked in several trades and businesses as he searched for financial stability. This included learning practical skills and taking on jobs that allowed him to earn an income.
His approach has generally been entrepreneurial rather than dependent on one source of income.
Following his BBNaija success, his celebrity status also became an important business asset. A large audience can create opportunities for endorsements, collaborations, product promotion and personal brands.
Because businesses can change over time, it is safer to describe Whitemoney as an entrepreneur with multiple business interests rather than claim that every business ever associated with his name remains active today.
Whitemoney’s Career After BBNaija
Winning Big Brother Naija significantly increased Whitemoney’s public profile.
He continued to work in entertainment and music while maintaining his interest in business. His social media presence also became an important part of his career.
In 2023, he returned to the Big Brother Naija house for the All Stars season, giving fans another opportunity to see him on the programme that originally made him famous.
His continued participation in entertainment demonstrates that his BBNaija victory was not the end of his career. Instead, it became a platform from which he could explore other opportunities.
Whitemoney’s Major Achievements
Some of the major milestones in Whitemoney’s career include:
- Building a career through several businesses and occupations before fame.
- Becoming a contestant on Big Brother Naija Season 6.
- Winning BBNaija Season 6 in 2021.
- Receiving the show’s major prize package.
- Developing a career as a singer and songwriter.
- Growing his personal brand and social media audience.
- Returning to BBNaija for the All Stars season in 2023.
- Continuing to pursue business and entertainment opportunities.
What Makes Whitemoney’s Story Interesting?
Whitemoney’s story is interesting because it is not simply about becoming famous on television.
Before becoming a reality TV celebrity, he had already experienced financial hardship, temporary jobs and different business ventures. His story shows the less glamorous side of trying to build a career in a difficult economic environment.
His BBNaija success then changed the scale of his opportunities.
For many fans, his journey represents persistence: trying different jobs, developing practical skills, entering entertainment and eventually finding a major platform that exposed him to millions of Nigerians.
At the same time, his career shows that fame does not automatically guarantee permanent success. Maintaining a public profile requires continued work, business decisions, creativity and adaptability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whitemoney
What is Whitemoney’s real name?
Whitemoney’s real name is Hazel Oyeze Onou.
How old is Whitemoney?
Whitemoney is 35 years old in 2026, based on the June 6, 1991 birth date currently published by his official platform.
When did Whitemoney win BBNaija?
Whitemoney won Big Brother Naija Season 6 on October 3, 2021.
What is Whitemoney’s educational qualification?
Whitemoney has said that he completed his education at the O-Level/NECO stage and did not attend university.
Which state is Whitemoney from?
Whitemoney is associated with Enugu State and is of Igbo heritage. His official biography also states that he was born in Kano and spent his formative years in Kaduna.
What does Whitemoney do for a living?
Whitemoney works across entertainment and business. He is known as a reality TV personality, entrepreneur, singer and songwriter.
What business does Whitemoney do?
His entrepreneurial activities have included shoe importing and sales, while he has also discussed other business interests. His career has expanded into entertainment, music and brand-related opportunities.
What is Whitemoney’s net worth?
There is no reliably verified public figure for Whitemoney’s current net worth. Online estimates vary considerably, so exact figures should be treated as unconfirmed.