But the daughters of one of Africa’s richest men say they are not content being rich and famous in his shadow, and instead want to work hard to make names for themselves in their own right.
Cuppy Otedola, 23, and her sister Temi, 19, are well-known in their home country of Nigeria because their father is energy tycoon Femi Otedola, worth an estimated £650million.
He was listed as the 16th richest man in Africa by Forbes in 2015 and has million pound properties in New York, Dubai, London, Abuja and Lagos.
Cuppy |
As well as jet-setting between the opulent family properties around the world, they also enjoy spending time on their father’s £7million yacht, have designer wardrobes and throw birthday parties that cost more than a fleet of supercars.
Cuppy pictured in New York. Her parents have a property there worth millions as well as lavish homes in London, Lagos, Dubai and Abuja |
‘I am scared of always been his daughter and not getting past that, for me that means not being successful enough,’ Cuppy reveals on Channel 4 documentary Lagos To London, Britain’s New Super-Rich.
‘I am still masked by my dad’s success. If I didn’t try and make it outside Nigeria I would be unhappy.’
Cuppy is keen to be famous in her own right as a DJ and has been securing gigs around the world at venues including Privé, Jalouse, District and Funky Buddha.
While Cuppy admits her father’s fortune has opened doors and helped her network, she then has to prove her talent behind the decks to secure more work.
She said:
‘I think I am a great DJ. Network comes into it but if I don’t do well I won’t get asked back no matter whose daughter I am.’Cuppy, who recently graduated from King’s College, University of London, with a degree in business and French, said she wants to become renowned around the world as a DJ and make it into Forbes 30 under 30 Rich List.
Her younger sister Temi feels the same and she is busy trying to establish a name for herself in the fashion world.
Temi has set up her own style blog JTO Fashion and has 22,000 followers on Instagram.
Temi |
She said she feels her blog is ‘acting as the medium between Nigeria and the rest of the world’.
Temi has been running her blog for the last year and said it has helped her establish a number of contacts with key fashion houses including Valentino.
She said she works hard on her blog because
‘my sisters and I were taught from a young age you can’t live your life in someone else’s shadow. Anything your family has done for you, you have to go and do for yourself as well.Temi admits she wouldn’t have been able to establish her blog without her father’s financial support – but she sees the help he has given her so far as a loan she intends to repay.
‘I think that is why my sisters and I go out and try to do our own thing because we want to be respected in our own rights.’
Cuppy, who DJs wearing £1,000 headphones covered in Swarovski crystals (of which she owns 15 pairs), adds that being the daughter of a billionaire also brings with it additional problems.
Speaking of why they love London so much, Cuppy said: ‘We go to Harrods a lot because it is convenient, they sell cars in there it is crazy.
‘We love The Arts Club, a super, amazing private members club, good food, good atmosphere.’
Temi, who is studying for a degree in art history at University College London, added:
‘We have done Dubai and Paris but always come back to London. You have the luxury shops, luxury cars, luxury houses, you can spend the money you have worked hard making.’The girls certainly know how to spend money on throwing a good party.
Cuppy said her party would have cost the same price as more than one Lamborghini |
Cuppy said she chose the theme because: ‘I feel like I am this young woman with just so much responsibility and Marie Antoinette was Queen Of France at a young age, plus we both love dogs.’
She said the party would have costs around the same amount as ‘a few Lamborghinis’ but she will have to top it on her wedding day.
Guests were served with golden plates at the party in the ballroom of the five star Mandarin Oriental. |
The sister say they don’t play hard in this way too often, preferring to be role models to young women in their home country and inspire them to work hard to achieve their goals.
Cuppy said:
‘We are setting the pace for young women who are trying to get out of a generational trend of just going to school, be good, get a job, get married and sit there looking pretty.’Temi’s greatest extravagance is shoes, although not the Louboutins her sister Florence adores. She’s a fan of boots, with one recent indulgence being a pair of £998 Chloé Susanna ankle boots.
Temi was born in London, but her family moved back to Nigeria shortly afterwards. Then, when she was seven, her mother sent Temi and her sister Florence to the King’s School Canterbury where fees are £11,480 for boarders.
Temi and mum Nana recently attended the opening night of the opera in Milan as guests of the design house Bottega Veneta |
Their father Femi divides his time between Lagos and London, coming to the UK about once a month.
‘He’s very modest,’ Temi explained. ‘He’s self made and he’s always been very careful with money.
‘He loves his yachts but that’s his only indulgence. He still uses an old pay-as-you-go Nokia phone and he only recently learned how to use an iPad.’
Otedola and wife, Nana |
‘There has been negativity,’ Temi admitted. ‘There always will be. My sister was DJing before I got started with my blog so I was prepared for it.
Temi blogs about her favourite beauty products and outfits, with clothes from her favourite brands including Emilia Wickstead, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Rag & Bone and All Saints.
She also likes to shop at boutiques such as One Vintage and Feathers near her family home in Knightsbridge where she returns every weekend, as well as Browns Focus, and Alara Lagos, which stocks brands such as Valentino, Dries Van Noten, Marni.
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