Here is the list of the top ten wealthiest preachers in the world
10. Joseph Prince
(Net
Worth 2017 – $5 Million)
Head 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.
9. T.B JOSHUA
(Net Worth 2017 – $10 Million)
Considered 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.
8. BILLY GRAHAM
($25 Million)
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.
7. Kenneth Copeland
($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”.
6.Crefflo Dollar
($27 Million)
With 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”.
5. E .A. Adeboye
($39
Million)
Enoch 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.
4.Benny hinn
($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.
3. Chris Oyakhilome
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.
2. T.D Jakes
($50 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.
1. David Oyedepo ($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.
The Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday said that it would not extend the period
of registration of candidates for its 2017 all Computer Based Test (CBT) UTME.
The board’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede told newsmen on the sideline of a
stakeholders’ meeting attended by owners of CBT centres nationwide, organised
by JAMB at the University of Lagos.
