“I Used to Fake It, Borrow and Chase Luxury” - Timini Egbuson Opens Up on Fake Lifestyle, Wealth Pressure

Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has admitted that he once struggled with the pressure of keeping up appearances, revealing that he previously borrowed money and chased luxury in a bid to fit into society’s expectations.

Speaking during a recent interview, the award-winning actor reflected on his personal journey, saying he has since realised that material possessions alone cannot bring lasting happiness or fulfillment.

According to Timini, he was once part of the culture of wanting to own the latest luxury items, but maturity helped him understand that there will always be something newer to desire.

“I’ll say that honestly, I was part of the bandwagon of wanting to have it all,” he said.

When asked whether he ever bought fake luxury watches, Timini dismissed the suggestion, insisting that all his watches were genuine.

“All my watches are real,” he said.

However, he admitted that he once spent excessively on luxury items, including perfumes, instead of making long-term investments.

“I used to be a perfume collector. I had like 150 perfumes. Looking back now, I could have bought a piece of land with that money,” he said.

Despite his change in perspective, Timini stressed that there is nothing wrong with enjoying success or owning expensive possessions, provided they are acquired honestly.

“Good things are meant for us as children of God. I don’t want people to think having a nice car or a nice watch is a bad thing,” he explained.

He, however, encouraged young people to ask themselves difficult questions about the source of their wealth and whether they would still be content without material possessions.

“Are you doing it with your full chest? How you got it, are you happy with it when you’re alone looking into the mirror? And without it, would you still be happy?” he asked.

Timini also revealed that he had experienced financial hardship at different points in his life but maintained that his attitude toward life remained unchanged.

“I’ve been broke in my life, but my energy is always the same because I’ve found a way to always be happy, whether things are going well or not,” he said.

The actor further criticised what he described as the unrealistic lifestyle often portrayed by influencers on social media, warning that many followers unknowingly place themselves under unhealthy financial pressure while trying to keep up.

“There were days that I was that guy that would fake it, borrow and do all of that,” he admitted.

He added that he has deliberately distanced himself from that lifestyle because he now believes influencing can sometimes project an unrealistic picture of success.

“Influencing is also kind of a false life that I’ve tried to step back from because I realised, who are we deceiving?” he said.

According to Timini, while he understands his own financial reality, many people watching online may go to dangerous lengths just to imitate what they see.

“The person watching me, what is the person doing to keep up with what I’m doing? That’s one thing all of us with platforms need to start preaching,” he added.

His comments have sparked conversations on social media, with many Nigerians praising his honesty and agreeing that social media has increased pressure on young people to project wealth, even when they cannot genuinely afford the lifestyles they display.

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