Popular Afrobeats singer Ruger has opened up about how he spent his first music paycheck, revealing he donated all of it to his church.
The 24-year-old artist, whose real name is Michael Adebayo Olayinka, shared this during a recent chat with VJ Adams. He said his first payment was N500,000 after launching his music career.
“I gave everything to the church. I didn’t use any of it,” Ruger confessed. “My next payment was N1 million, and I felt like I had arrived. I went on a shopping spree. Within one year, millions kept coming in.”
The ‘Bounce’ crooner admitted that becoming wealthy changed his lifestyle and mindset. “Money changes everybody,” he said. “When you make more money, many things change – how you talk, how you handle situations. Some people stop stressing when they have much money.”
Ruger said he aspires to reach the level of success where he wouldn’t worry about critics, using American rapper Jay-Z as an example. “Jay-Z doesn’t respond to insults because he’s very successful. I’m working toward that stage,” he added.
The singer, signed to Jonzing World, has become one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising music stars since his debut in 2021. His revelation about his humble beginnings and rapid success has sparked reactions from fans online.
Many praised his decision to give back to God first, while others said his honesty about money’s influence was refreshing. Ruger’s story shows how quickly fortunes can change in Nigeria’s booming music industry.
