Afrobeats singer Abiola Ahmed Akinbiyi, popularly known as Bella Shmurda, has revealed that he withdraws between N1 million and N2 million every day, saying he needs to see physical cash when he wakes up because he is an overthinker.
The singer made the disclosure during an interview in the “Who is Bella Shmurda? | Fatherhood, Sanity, Music” documentary, published on the B for Bunmi YouTube channel on April 22, 2026.
In the interview, Bella Shmurda explained the psychology behind his daily habit, admitting that he has a compulsive need to see money even though he considers himself business-minded.
“I always withdraw ₦1 million–₦2 million every day, so when I wake up, I need to see money. I just like seeing money because I’m an overthinker, although I’m also very business-minded,” he said.
The admission fits into a broader narrative of a singer who has been candid about his complicated relationship with wealth.
In April 2026, he revealed that he nearly went bankrupt after fame, admitting he bought three cars at once so his friends could ride in convoy with him, and housed up to ten friends in a four-bedroom apartment.
“I used to have a lot of money but I rushed things. I wish I was wise then. I was just buying things extravagantly, things I eventually had no need for,” he said during an interview with YouTuber Korty EO. “I was reckless” .
He also recounted spending N2 million in a club in a single night, saying he was “feeling like Wizkid” as the money finished .
Yet the singer has also demonstrated a sharper business instinct. In 2022, he paid N20 million to exit an unfavourable record deal with One World Global Records, where he was receiving only 30 per cent of revenue while the label took 70 per cent .
He went on to found Dangbana Republik, an independent label through which he signed rising artiste Fola in October 2024, describing the move as part of his mission to support young talents.
In October 2025, he defended his premium performance fees by revealing he spent $100,000 on producers, songwriters, and engineers for his album *Sanity* .
The N1 million-N2 million daily withdrawal habit fits into a broader pattern of a man who has been candid about his pursuit of wealth. In a 2023 live session with Small Doctor, he jokingly threatened to abandon music for TikTok influencing after seeing a colleague withdraw N500,000 from the platform, declaring: “It’s just money I am looking for now” .
