Nigerian comedian and skit maker Brain Jotter has opened up about his humble beginnings, revealing how growing up without much money influenced the way he handled his finances even after becoming successful.

The comedian shared the experience while recounting the early stages of his career and the first major payments he received from his work.

‘I had never seen ₦100,000 before 2019’

Brain Jotter said he had never had ₦100,000 before 2019 and was shocked when he began receiving payments of about ₦200,000 for his comedy work.

He recalled how someone encouraged him during the early days of his career before a brand approached him with a one-year endorsement deal reportedly worth ₦2 million.

According to him, he was so excited about the offer that he signed the contract without reading it.

“I didn’t read the contract. They said 2 million Naira. I did not read.”

He said he received about ₦1 million as the first payment and immediately went to his mother’s shop to celebrate.

At the time, Brain Jotter recalled that even drinking malt felt like a sign of having made it.

His career quickly outgrew his first deal

The comedian said his career expanded rapidly after signing the one-year agreement.

“I signed a one-year deal. But in three months, I outgrew that contract.”

He explained that his rapid growth eventually made him consider refunding the money because the deal no longer reflected his rising value.

‘I was scared whenever I got big money’

Despite his growing income, Brain Jotter said he struggled to spend money because his past experiences with poverty had made him afraid that his success could suddenly disappear.

He explained that whenever he received a large amount of money, his first thought was how long it would last.

“When I got the money, I was scared.”

According to him, the fear of returning to poverty influenced major financial decisions, including his choice of accommodation.

‘I rented a ₦700k apartment’

Brain Jotter revealed that he once had about ₦20 million but was still hesitant to rent an apartment costing ₦1 million.

“When I rented my first apartment of 700K, I had 20 million Naira. But I was scared.”

He eventually rented the cheaper apartment for ₦700,000 and spent another ₦1.6 million renovating it.

The comedian said his reluctance to spend was largely connected to his fear of losing everything and returning to the financial struggles he had experienced earlier in life.

‘Poverty is bad’

Reflecting on his journey, Brain Jotter said poverty can leave a lasting psychological impact even after someone’s financial situation improves.

“Poverty is bad. Poverty is bad. We got punished for poverty.”

His story has sparked conversations about how growing up with financial hardship can shape people’s relationship with money, even after they become financially successful.