The hottest debate on whether pastors should be rich has been on since religion was started. Some people state that wealthy preachers are focusing on heaven’s real wealth. Some argue that a wealthy pastor can never set a good example to their flock.
However, as we have witnessed, especially in Kenya, whether rich or poor some pastors have painted a bad picture to their flock. Some pastors, as society would like to put it, depend entirely on their flock’s offerings. However, others, but only a few, depend entirely on their businesses. Some pastors have set up businesses as well as buying property abroad, enlisting the services of real estate agencies like movoto to get the best deals.
With no specific order, below are some of the richest pastors internationally.
1. David Oyedepo
David Oyedepo is a Nigerian pastor whose net worth is at $150 million. He is the founder of the Living faith church worldwide, also known as the Winner’s chapel. The church is also affiliated with many others internationally. David Oyedepo is also the senior pastor at the faith tabernacle, which holds a capacity of 50,000 seats.
The bishop owns a lot of property, including real estate in the UK and the USA. He is currently Nigeria’s richest with thousands of followers who acknowledge his teachings.
2. Pat Robertson.
Pat Robertson is another wealthy preacher whose net worth is at $100 million. Pat Robertson is not only a successful preacher, but he is also a successful businessman. Pat Robertson is an American preacher, having been born in Lexington, Virginia.
Pat Robertson, also known as Marion Gordon Robertson, was also a US marine corp in his early years. He then joined law school, but then he failed the bar exam and later joined the New York theological seminary. He is also run for president in the 80s, but he was not successful.
After completing the seminary, Pat Robertson started the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia, and successfully the broadcast has reached several countries. The preacher is also the founder of the Christian Coalition, a Christian right organization geared raising support for conservative political candidates. The preacher is also known for some famous controversies that he claims are from God.
3. Kenneth Copeland
Copeland is probably the richest preacher in the world. It is rumored that the preacher is worth more than the celebrity net worth claims of $300 million. Copeland is an American preacher born in Texas in 1936. he is the founder of the Kenneth Copeland ministries located in Texas. Copeland is a preacher, but he is also an author, a musician, and a public speaker.
His ministry is done through TV broadcasts, CDs, books, and television. He owns three private jets, which he is rumored to use for his ministry trips.
4. Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn is an Israeli born pastor whose net worth is $50 million at the moment. Benny Hinn is not only a preacher but also a writer. He was brought to the spotlight, all thanks to his faith healing acts held in big stadiums and big podiums.
Benny Hinn became born again after he joined his friends in prayer meetings while at school. However, his family did not approve of his newfound faith, which led Hinn to Kathryn Kuhlman’s faith healing ministries in Pittsburg.
Kathryn Kuhlman greatly influenced Hinn such that he emulates her style of ministry to this day. He later started the Orlando Christian center but claimed that he was only a conduit of God’s mighty healing works. He is also surrounded by some to have supposedly false prophecies about the end of the world.
5. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
Pastor Chris is a Nigerian pastor whose net worth is at $50 million. He is currently the second richest pastor in Nigeria after Bishop David Oyedepo. He is also known for his faith healing ministries, and as a result, he has many followers. Pastor Chris, as he is popularly known in Nigeria, started the believers’ Loveworld, which is also known as Christ embassy.
The church started in Nigeria, but it has currently spread its wings to several other countries worldwide. The church is said to be one of the wealthiest churches known worldwide. It also runs a famous NGO known as the innercity. The NGO has also spread its wings to three TV broadcasts known as Loveworld Plus, Loveworld SAT, and Loveworld TV.
6. Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen is an American preacher whose net worth is at $40 million. He is popularly known for being the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston. Joel Osteen inherited the church from his father, John Osteen. Joel Osteen took over with very minimal experience, but he steered the church to the growth it has now.
Conclusion
On many occasions getting rich for many pastors is the last thing on their minds, well except for a few. The priority they give is to their ministry; thus, getting rich comes as a byproduct of their service to God. Many do not like to talk about how much they own, so this list is not exhausted to all the wealthiest preachers in the world.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.