Here is the full list of The Richest Pastors in The World By
Forbes, and Nigeria’s pastor, Bishop David Oyedepo turned out to be richest.
1. Bishop David
Oyedepo Net Worth 2018 – $150 Million
Coming in as a supposed host of the Holy Ghost with the
most, Bishop David Oyedepo heads the single largest church in the world,
Winners’ Chapel, which seats 50,000. As one of the main founders of the
Nigerian Christian Charismatic movement, he also exerts control over churches
in 45 African nations, as well as several in Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United
States.
Having been mentored by Adeboye, it is quite clear he took
the formula of church expansion up a notch. Alongside churches, there has also
been active outreach within his native continent where his ministry has aided
in the development of hospitals, schools and maternity homes.
As to be expected with such successes, two of his sons are
following in his footsteps by heading up both the London and South African
Winners’ Chapel divisions.
2. Bishop T.D. Jakes
Net Worth 2018 – $147 Million
Head of the Potter’s House Megachurch and Potter’s Touch
television program, T.D. Jakes is a common face on many national broadcast
stations. Jakes has also been seen with both Presidents Bush (during the
Hurricane Katrina aftermath) and Obama (leading a morning church service in
2009) who have both commented on his faithful intents and actions.
This is particularly notable, as both his Bachelor and
Masters of Arts degree came from an unaccredited institution, Friends
International Christian University.
Though he does make a sizable yearly sum as a pastor, most
of his wealth has originated in sales of his gospel music (for which he has won
at least one Grammy award), books and numerous syndicated appearances. As it
turns out, T.D. Jakes is also of Nigerian heritage, which was proven when he
allowed for his DNA to be tested for a PBS program.
3. Chris Oyakhilome
Net Worth 2018 – $50 Million
Yet another Lagos native, “Pastor Chris” has an incredibly busy
schedule to go with his wealth. His Believers’ Loveworld Incorporated not only
contains an absolutely massive fellowship branch, but also branches for
humanitarian aid and education. He also owns three separate television channels
that garner up to 2.5 million views per nightly event.
As is common for someone with the “faith healing” gospel,
there is some backlash, particularly from the Treatment Action Campaign against
his claims of faith healing AIDS. As an interesting aside, as of 2017 South
Africa is considering a warrant for his arrest if Oyakhilome and his
organizations do not become more financially transparent.
4. Benny Hinn Net
Worth 2018 – $42 Million
Benny Hinn is perhaps the most openly controversial of any
American Televangelist. Publicly claiming a gospel that empowers “faith
healing”, he has been investigated by the United States Senate for manipulation
of tax status, and his Ministry has been flagged with a “Donor Alert” by
Ministry Watch. Regardless of this shady financial situation he continues to
have a solid fellowship in both Canada and the United States.
Followers of his teachings believe that if they are prayed
over, they can be healed of any malady. Among his many luxury possessions is a
Gulfstream G4 jet.
5. E. A .Adeboye Net
Worth 2018 – $39 Million
Pastor5Enoch Adejare Adeboye began his career in preaching
while still maintaining a professorship at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
It appears his Ph.D. in mathematics continues to serve him
well, as membership numbers of his Redeemed Christian Church of God continue to
swell in over 100 countries. Adeboye has claimed a goal to put a church “within
5 minutes” of every home in the world. With 14,000 branches in Nigeria alone,
it seems he has done so for at least one country.
6. Creflo Dollar Net
Worth 2018 – $27 Million
Pastor4With Dollar in his name, was there any doubt this
pastor would appear on such a list? Known as one of the flashiest of American
Ministers, he owns a Rolls Royce, multiple $2.5 million dollar estates and in
recent years been given an F by the Ministry Watch for financial transparency.
To make matters worse, Dollar was arrested in 2013 for
allegedly attacking his own daughter but the charges were dropped after
agreements to join anger management groups.
He like quite a few of his comrades in this list preaches
almost exclusively the “prosperity” gospel. While receiving a Bachelor’s in
Science for Education from West Georgia College, it appears this pastor has yet
to learn the intricacies of “Do unto Others”.
7. Kenneth Copeland
Net Worth 2018 – $25 Million
Best known for his messages about prosperity and abundance,
it appears Copeland can reference quite a bit of firsthand experience.
Before his conversion to Christianity he had commercial
success as a recording artist, releasing 1957’s “Pledge of Love” which made it
to #17 of the top 40 billboard hits of the year.
Copeland has had a lifelong love for flying as well, which
allowed him after conversion to become the personal pilot of Oral Roberts
before starting his own ministry and owning his own private jet (admittedly
paid for by church donations).
Copeland and his family also reside in a $6.3 million
estate, where television audiences are invited to sit around the table with the
family on “Believers Voice of Victory”.
8. Billy Graham Net
Worth 2018 – $25 Million
Pastor3Once called by many as “America’s Pastor”, Billy
Graham is among the most well known and long-lived pastors on the planet. Born
in 1918 and educated in Anthropology and Biblical Studies by the Trinity Bible
College in Florida State, he has been a presence for many historic events of
the past two generations.
From bailing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr out of jail during the
fight for Civil Rights, to directly writing and supporting Nixon during the
Vietnam war, he has always been quite political minded. This fact has no doubt
helped his following, with an estimated audience of around 2.2 Billion
individuals over the course of his career.
9. T.B. Joshua Net
Worth 2018 – $10 Million
Pastor2Considered a Prophet by most of his congregation,
Joshua has a unique and notable influence in his native country of Nigeria.
While primarily preaching from his home city of Lagos,
Nigeria, Joshua has over 1.5 million Facebook fans. He also has a history of
sending “Anointed Water” to thousands of individuals worldwide, most notably
during the recent Ebola crisis.
There has been ongoing controversy regarding his claims to
deliver people from possession, and there are 3 reported deaths in the U.K.
linked to his church.
These were reported to be cases where the individuals
refused life lengthening AIDS medication and instead relied on prayer for
survival.
10. Joseph Prince Net
Worth 2018 – $5 Million
Pastor1Head of the largest church in the all of Asia and
netting a salary of $550,000 a year, Prince could easily be seen as blessed.
Born to a Sikh priest and previously employed as an IT consultant, his unlikely
career has garnered a grand following worldwide from his native Malaysia to the
United States.
This popularity is partially thanks to such friends as Joel
Osteen of Lakewood Megachurch who has hosted a number of his sermons. One of
the most internet savvy of the pastors listed, Prince also has a online video
and podcast with a following from over 150 countries.
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