A pastor’s place in any Christian community is that of a spiritual leader, advisor, and counselor for thousands of people. While those that take “The Good Word” seriously will be humble and righteous individuals, that does not mean that there are many pastors in the United States that have taken advantage of their position of power. Indeed, many pastors shamelessly exploit their communities, putting much of their flock’s donations in their pockets. Let’s look at some of America’s richest thieves that use Christianity as a means to an end, who might be surprised when they don’t make it through the pearly gates when their time comes.
The Worlds Wealthiest Pastors
Franklin Graham
Many pastors will come from long lines of religious professionals, with individuals like Franklin Graham keeping his calling in the family business. The son of Billy Graham carried on his father’s “good work”. Franklin Graham made the most out of a bad situation when he ensured that he was well cared for when most people were facing hard times during the economic downturn. His $1.2 million compensation was completely shameless considering that much of his congregation would have been struggling financially. Today his net worth stands at around $10 million.
Franklin Graham
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers is one of the older members of the wealthy pastor’s club. He was tight with former President Lyndon B. Johnson long before he became a pastor, which was a highly profitable relationship that allowed him to gain an incredible amount of influence and a high position in American society. He then propelled his career as a pastor of his political power, one that would lead to $20 million in taxpayer income, an amount that does not cover his entire net worth. We might never know Moyers’ full worth, however, as he is incredibly cagey when it comes to his income.
Bill Moyers
Richard Rossi
Richard Rossi is not a good person, and that is saying something considering the other figures that we’ve been covering in this list. In 1995, the former pastor landed in court for attempting to kill his wife. He would eventually be acquitted of all charges and would walk free, despite having brutally attacked his wife. When he isn’t trying to take out his partners, Rossi is also a talk radio host, filmmaker, writer, and actor beyond being a hypocritical minister. His net worth stands at more than $1 million.
Richard Rossi
Paul Cain
Paul Cain’s approach to ministry was a strange one. He began his ministry in the mid-20th century but would later fall out with counterparts like Billy Graham and Jack Coe when he became disillusioned by the greed and corruption that he saw as destroying God’s work. He then disappeared from public view and went on an evangelical tour of the world. Somehow, he also ended up working with the CIA and FBI as a consultant. He has a net worth somewhere between 1 and 5 million dollars.
Paul Cain
Jimmy Swaggart
Many people might not trust a pastor called “Jimmy Swaggart”, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a hugely popular televangelist. Swaggart appeared frequently during the 80s on weekend televangelist programs. He would soon become one of the most recognizable televangelists in the industry, which made his sex and prostitution scandals all the more shocking. While he might not have enjoyed the same glory as he did before, we are sure that he did not mind too much, given his $67 million net worth.
Jimmy Swaggart
Charles Stanley
Charles Stanley is a saint compared to many of the other charlatans on this list. Other than his shaky personal relationships, Stanley has never been fingered in any serious crime or corruption cases. He began the In Touch Ministries, which is a titanic television and radio network that spreads across the world. Almost a decade ago, In Touch Ministries was reportedly earning an annual $73 million, with his personal net worth standing at around $1.5 million.
Charles Stanley
R.C. Sproul
R. C. Sproul might have begun his ministry during the 70s, but that did not mean that he went the traditional route that his counterparts did with televangelism. Rather, old Sproul waited for the internet to really take off and became a… “cyber-evangelist” (?) in 2012. Sproul is your typical sleazy, greasy, greedy evil pastor who believes that pastors should be compensated to the point where they can share their skills generously. He has a calculated net worth of about $2 million.
R C Sproul
Jack Van Impe
You might have had the displeasure of watching Jack Van Impe Presents with the imp himself, Jack Van Impe. While we hate to praise a character like this one, the fact that he managed to keep his television show going for 60 years is incredibly impressive. Impe also has his foundation, which has apparently earned more than $2.5 million, which would also be his net worth. As for his personal salary, it is reportedly $150,000.
Jack Van Impe
Billy Graham
Billy Graham is one of the godfathers of televangelism and America’s Christian culture in general. Where do we even begin with this guy? Perhaps the worst thing that Graham has done is voice his hateful opinions that include homophobic, antisemitic, and misogynist rhetoric. His despicable sermons have reached more than a calculated 2.2 billion lives through his television presence that has gone on for around 60 years. Bigotry made Graham immensely wealthy, with a net worth of more than $25 million.
Billy Graham
Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen is one of the most famous (or infamous) modern pastors in America and perhaps worldwide. When he came of age, Osteen was passed the holy torch by his pastor father. Since he became an influential figure in American culture, Osteen has been occasionally criticized for pushing prosperity theology, which maintains that Christians should be rewarded financially for being pious. While Osteen’s net worth is staggering, being more than $40 million, his personal finances don’t touch those of his wife’s, whose net worth is estimated to be around $100 million.
Joel Osteen
Kenneth Copeland
Next up we have Kenneth Copeland, a televangelist that has become something of a meme thanks to his wild and often ridiculous performances. He is also one of the most controversial and immoral televangelists of modern times. His crimes include persuading his massive following that COVID-19 could be cured through prayer, refusing to hand Haitians their fundraised cash, as well as claiming exemption on a private jet of his that cost $3.6 million. His net worth comes to around $26.5 million.
Kenneth Copeland
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee Fletcher is a politician and physician that also dabbled in ministry. His main career has been in politics, however, and he has made his riches from being a high-ranking member of the Republican party. Fletcher became the Governor of Kentucky in 2003. It was in 2005 that Greg Stumbo, the Attorney General at the time and the number one Democrat in Kentucky, alleged that Fletcher and his team had cheated Kentucky’s merit system. His net worth is more than $3 million.
Ernie Fletcher
Leroy Jenkins
Some individuals are so visibly sleazy that you have to wonder how they ever became globally appreciated pastors in the first place, as was the case with Leroy Jenkins. They say that you should never judge a book by its cover, but Jenkins was an actual con artist, and worse, an arsonist. He would even go so far as to marry a lottery winner that was 77 years old, clearly in the hopes that he would claim her winnings when she shortly died. Thankfully, Jenkins was denied the sum. He passed away in 2017 when his net worth was around $4 million.
Leroy Jenkins
Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo has led a rich and vibrant life that has included writing, ministry, academia, and public speaking. He was also former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s spiritual advisor at one stage. While Campolo was openly homophobic at one stage, he managed to turn his views around and has since become more tolerant. He has made plenty of appearances on television and radio shows, and unlike many other big preachers, is a professor of sociology. He has a net worth of around $4 million.
Tony Campolo
John MacArthur
John MacArthur was the mastermind behind Grace to You, a globally reaching television and radio program. He is widely recognized as being among the most prominent and inspiring preachers in America. That doesn’t mean that his opinions haven’t rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, however. Like many of his colleagues, he is openly homophobic and is against the social justice movement. Regardless of his stances, MacArthur is fabulously wealthy, with a $12 million net worth.
John MacArthur
Kay Arthur
We finally introduce our first female member of the sketchy pastor list, who ironically has managed to keep her hands mostly clean throughout her long and fruitful career in Christianity. Following a deeply unhappy first marriage, Kay Arthur managed to turn her life around and set up Precept Ministries International alongside her new husband. She holds deeply conservative values and views that some might find offensive. Arthur enjoys an annual salary of about $100,000 with a net worth of around $5 million.
Kay Arthur
Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton is a legendary figure in America that exploded in both religious and political circles. He first came to prominence as a civil rights activist and later as a Baptist minister. He founded the National Action Network and was even nominated in 2004 as the Democrats to run for president. Sharpton has been at the center of many controversies throughout his life and career, and in 2021 was criticized for supporting the tobacco industry. Today, his net worth stands at around $5 million.
Al Sharpton
Chris Okotie
Our journey now takes us to Nigeria, where Chris Okotie lives. The immensely successful televangelist did his best to become the president of his country, having run three times and failed each one. He is a colorful individual with a law degree and a historical pop music career. His net worth stands at about $7.5 million, which he has used to indulge in a life of luxury. Beyond being inappropriately flashy for a man of faith, Okotie has been otherwise well behaved.
Chris Okotie
Peter Popoff
The German-born Peter Popoff migrated to America shortly after World War II ended. He was barely into his adult life when he started his ministry. The youthful pastor went straight for the miracles department and began claiming to be able to cure diseases and disabilities. Of course, Popoff was nothing but a dirty liar and was exposed in due course. After having licked his wounds for around ten years, Popoff began popping off again with his religious hoaxes. He has a net worth of around $10 million.
Peter Popoff
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist legend and politician who also served as a Baptist minister. His fervent political activity and presence inspired him to run for president on two failed occasions during the 80s. His ministry work began in 1968 and has been a strong part of his total career, which unfortunately involved reprehensible antisemitic comments. He has worked hard to better his relationship with the American Jewish community, however. Jackson has a $10 million net worth as well as a Master of Divinity which he attained in 2000.
Jesse Jackson
Ed Young
Ed Young is the legendary senior pastor Homer Edwin Young’s eldest son. From a young age, Ed was passionately involved in his church life and soon began ministering. He commenced the Fellowship Church in February 1990 which steadily swelled in size and reach. Young soon became a notable pastor and with his increasing presence and bank account managed to organize things like a relief for Haitians during the 2010 earthquake. He has around $11 million in net worth.
Ed Young
Ernest Angley
Despite his completely unconvincing wig, Ernest Angley is an incredible rags to riches example that proves that ministry can turn anyone’s life around if they play their cards right. Angley found the Lord in 1939 at the age of 18 and soon began preaching with his newfound zeal and white suits. Today he has a cathedral, a related restaurant, and a television station whose workers he refused to pay. He also has a Boeing 747SP and a $15 million net worth.
Ernest Angley
Kirk Cameron
If you do not recognize Kirk Cameron the pastor, you might remember Kirk Cameron as the cute kid in the 80s sitcom Growing Pains. Somehow, Cameron became a fundamentalist Christian after his time with secular television and almost solely starred in religious movies as well as being a pastor. He has done his best to convince the American youth that Creationism is how we all came about. He is also fabulously wealthy, with a $20 million net worth.
Kirk Cameron
Louis Farrakhan
You know of the Nation of Islam, but do you know how leads it? Louis Farrakhan is among the religious world’s most controversial characters. He was incredibly active during the 20th century where he organized and led many explosive events like the 1995 Million Man March on Washington D.C. He and Malcolm X were bitter rivals, with many critics believing that he had a hand in Malcolm X’s assassination. Farrakhan has a $3 million net worth.
Louis Farrakhan
John Danforth
It is incredible how well politics and religion go together in America. John Danforth decided that his political career was not as fulfilling or profitable as ministry could be. After more than 19 years as a senator, as well as a year spent as the UN ambassador from the U.S. between 2004 and 2005, Danforth took up preaching. He is also the part-owner of the St. Louis Blues hockey team. His net worth stands at more than $30 million.
John Danforth
Robert Tilton
Next up we have Robert Tilton who was one of the main driving forces behind televangelism during the 90s. He hosted a highly successful show that earned a phenomenal $80 million annually as Tilton shamelessly convinced countless Americans to send him money so that he could convince God to solve their issues. Tilton was thoroughly investigated and exposed and his show was thankfully brought to an end. His net worth came off largely unscathed, however, and still stands at more than $50 million.
Robert Tilton
George Foreman
George Foreman is known for many things, which include boxing, ministry, and cooking grills. When Foreman nearly lost his life in 1977, the traumatic experience led to salvation when he stopped punching people as a boxer and began preaching to them instead as a minister. He could even be found on street corners preaching. Foreman would also invent the Foreman Grill. His combined and varied successes created an enormous net worth of more than $250 million.
George Foreman
Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson is basically the overlord of televangelism. The former Baptist minister turned media mogul would go on to establish the Christian Broadcasting Network, which he still chairs to this day. He is also Regent University’s CEO and chancellor. He is one of the most outspoken bigots of modern times, being acrimoniously against almost anyone that isn’t a straight, conservative, and charismatic Christian. Robertson’s religious empire has earned him a net worth that stands somewhere between $200 million and $1 billion.
Pat Robertson
Rick Warren
Rick Warren presides over one of the most enormous churches, or megachurches to be more specific, in the United States, in Lake Forest, California. As you can imagine, a church that big will certainly earn a lot of money from its enormous congregation, but Warren donates 90% of profits to charity while surviving on the leftovers. This is a refreshingly tolerant and broad-minded pastor. He attended the 2009 inauguration of former President Barrack Obama. He is worth around $25 million.
Rick Warren
Creflo Dollar
You might think that being called ‘Creflo Dollar’ as a televangelist is too on the nose, but this pastor has certainly made the title work for him. Dollar is an incredibly popular and materialistic pastor who does not shy away from heavy spending and living the good life. Rather, he promotes consumerism in his personal version of the gospel. Upon losing his Gulfstream Jet, Dollar demanded that his congregation fund his next one, worth $66 million. Thankfully, only a few members of his flock were onboard. Not that his $27 million net worth suffered much.
Creflo Dollar
Charles E. Blake
Charles E. Blake is the Church of God in Christ’s Presiding Bishop and leads an 8.8 million-strong following of Holiness Pentecostals. This movement encompasses much of the Pentecostal subscribers of the African American group. In 2014, Blake got into a nasty spat with fellow preacher Elder Carter when the latter made some hostile homophobic remarks at a sermon. Blake condemned Carter’s hate speech, which then led to Carter defaming Blake, which snowballed into a court case. Other than that, Blake has enjoyed a peaceful but profitable life with a salary of around $200,000.
Charles E Blake