Jim Bakker net worth is approximately $500,000. He is an American televangelist and minister best known as the cohost, with his wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, of the television talk show The PTL Club (also called The Jim and Tammy Show).
In the 1970s and 1980s, Bakker became famous as the co-host (along with his wife Tammy Faye Bakker) of the popular Christian television program “The PTL Club.” The show was broadcast from the Bakker “Heritage USA” theme park and Christian resort in South Carolina.
Jim Bakker Wikipedia And Biography
Here is the Jim Bakker biography overview:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Jim Bekker |
| Net Worth | $500,000 |
| Date Of Birth | January 2, 1940 |
| Age | 84 |
| Birth Place | Muskegon, Michigan |
| Profession | Televangelist, Minister |
| Father Name | Raleigh Bakker |
| Mother Name | Furnia Bakker |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wives | Tammy Faye Messner, Lori Beth Graham |
Jim Bakker’s Early Life
Jim Bakker was born in Muskegon, Michigan on January 2, 1940. He was the son of Raleigh and Furnia Bakker. His father, Raleigh, was a lumberjack, and his mother, Furnia, was a secretary. Bakker grew up in a low-income family and had a difficult childhood.
According to his own testimony, he was often hungry and had to wear hand-me-down clothes. Bakker’s spiritual journey began at a young age. He claimed to have experienced a spiritual awakening at 16, which led him to become a born-again Christian.
Jim Bakker Education
Jim Bakker received his primary and secondary education in the public school system in Muskegon, Michigan. After graduating from high school, he attended North Central Bible College (now North Central University) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he studied theology.
In the 1960s, he received additional training through Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), where he began his career as a televangelist.
While Jim Bakker did not have a formal university education, his theological training at North Central Bible College and early career mentorship at CBN provided him the foundational knowledge and experience that launched his successful televangelist ministry in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jim Bakker Career
In 1966, Jim Bakker began working at Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in Portsmouth, Virginia. At the time, the network had a small audience of around a few thousand.
Bakker and his wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, contributed to the network’s growth. They hosted a children’s variety show called Come On Over, which employed comic routines with puppets. The success of Come On Over led to Bakker’s rise to prominence.
In the 1970s, Bakker moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and launched The PTL Club, a television ministry emphasizing prosperity theology. The show became extremely popular, and its audience grew to millions. Bakker’s ministry also expanded to include Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and resort.
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Jim Bakker Scandals And Downfall
Jim Bakker, a prominent American televangelist, and his wife Tammy Faye Bakker were once among the most famous televangelists in the United States. They built a multimillion-dollar evangelism empire, but their world came crashing down due to a series of scandals that led to their downfall.
Sexual Assault Scandal
In 1987, Jessica Hahn, a 21-year-old church secretary, accused Jim Bakker of sexual assault. The scandal led to a criminal trial, and in 1989, authorities convicted Bakker of fraud and conspiracy. They sentenced him to 45 years in prison but later reduced his sentence to 8 years.
PTL Ministry And Heritage USA
The Bakkers used $200 million of PTL (Praise The Lord) funds to finance the building of Heritage USA, a 2,300-acre theme park and resort in South Carolina. The project was heavily criticized for its opulence and extravagance, and it was seen as a symbol of the excesses of the televangelist era.
Financial Mismanagement
Accusers charged the Bakkers with financial mismanagement, including using PTL funds for personal expenses and purchasing luxury items. The scandal prompted a federal investigation, and authorities accused the Bakkers of defrauding their followers of millions of dollars.
Fall of PTL Ministry
The Bakkers’ scandals led to the downfall of the PTL Ministry. The ministry filed for bankruptcy, and it eventually sold Heritage USA. They also took the Bakkers’ television show, “The PTL Club,” off the air and dismantled their empire.
In 1988, Bakker’s career was marred by a major scandal. He was indicted on eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy. The scandal centered around allegations of fraud and mismanagement of funds at Heritage USA.
Bakker was eventually convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison, although he was later released in 1994.
Jim Bakker Post-Scandal Life And Career
After being released from prison in 1994, Bakker began a new ministry called Morningside Church Productions in Blue Eye, Missouri. He currently hosts “The Jim Bakker Show,” on his Morningside television network.
Bakker has continued to be controversial in televangelism, facing criticism and legal issues related to his ministry over the years.
Jim Bakker’s Personal Life & Family
Jim Bakker has been married to two women. His first wife was Tammy Faye Messner, an American televangelist and singer. People best remember her as his cohost on the television talk show The PTL Club (also called The Jim and Tammy Show).
They divorced in 1992. Afterward, Jim Bakker married Lori Beth Graham, a former televangelist, in 1998. Lori Beth Graham was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and the couple adopted five children together.
Jim Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye Messner, had two children during their marriage. Their elder daughter, Tammy Sue Bakker-Chapman, was born in 1970. In 1975, they celebrated the birth of their younger son, Jamie Charles Bakker.
Jim Bakker Books
Jim Bakker has authored several books. Here are a few of them:
- I Was Wrong: The Untold Story of the Shocking Journey from PTL Power to Prison and Beyond
- Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse
- The Mystery of the Shemitah
- God, Trump, and the 2020 Election
- Rise: In Defense of Judeo-Christian Values and Freedom
FAQs
Jim Bakker net worth is $500,000.
Jim and Tammy Bakker received nearly $1.6 million in pay from the PTL television ministry.
This fraud investigation of Jim Bakker involved a Ponzi scheme where he took money for one thing and then used the money to pay off other debts.
Jim Bakker’s second wife is Lori Beth Graham.
Jim Bakker was born on January 2, 1940.
Final Words
In conclusion, Jim Bakker’s net worth reflects his enduring influence and presence in televangelism, despite facing numerous legal and personal challenges over the years.
Bakker has managed to rebuild his career and maintain a significant following. His story serves as a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt in the face of adversity.
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