Net Worth: $50 million If there was a queen of controversial religious figures, Janice Crouch would be it. The American televangelist and entrepreneur (who crafted her look after a pink puppet she used to use in one of her kids shows) founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with her husband, Paul, in 1973. After nearly 40 years of building her faith-based empire (which includes a theme park called The Holy Land Experience), Jan was taken to court over allegations that she was funding her lavish lifestyle with money illegally funneled from her religious enterprise.
Some of Crouch’s personal expenses included mansions, private jets, those custom wigs (the cost of which would surprise you), and an air-conditioned mobile home designed specifically for her little Maltese terriers. Crouch also rented adjoining rooms for herself and said pups at a deluxe Florida hotel for nearly two years while she was building her biblical theme park.
Benny Hinn
Net Worth: $42 million Benny Hinn is arguably the ultimate archetype of a televangelist. The Israeli-born Pentecostal minister even freaked his Greek Orthodox family out, not simply by converting but by becoming what they felt was something of a religious fanatic. Indeed, Hinn was responsible for the “Miracle Crusades” of the '80s. These you certainly will have seen footage of. Hinn would pack out stadiums in which energetic revivalist meetings would be held, complete with the frenetic chaos of faith healing. All of this would be broadcast to a worldwide audience.
Like most faith healers, Hinn claimed to have the miraculous power to bring sight to the blind, cure cancer, reverse AIDS, and even repair damaged limbs; though he stopped short of claiming to be able to regrow amputations. While skeptics had been throwing shade of Hinn’s capabilities for some time, they were really brought into question when he was hospitalized with shortness of breath (that he apparently couldn’t clear up with his powers) soon after returning to California from spreading his ministry in Brazil. Since then, investigations have been conducted and no confirmed cases of permanent healing from an encounter with Hinn could be found.
Robert Tilton
Net Worth: $50 million You’ve probably seen the American televangelist’s infomercial-esque program, Success-N-Life. While he doesn’t offer free knife sets, he does teach that any hardships viewers may be experiencing – poverty in particular – are as a result of their own sin. Conveniently, the best way out of the self-made predicament is to send money to Tilton, thus planting a seed of prosperity through the penance and faith embodied in the act. Tilton doesn’t ask for small amounts from these poverty-stricken people either. Apparently $1,000 is a minimum benchmark for impressing the Lord enough to be blessed with material abundance in return.
Tilton was investigated in the early '90s by Diane Sawyer, who’s piece aired on ABC News. Among other shocking revelations, Sawyer depicted Tilton throwing away prayer requests from viewers, his only interest being in the money they were accompanied by. Around this time, Tilton’s ministry was hitting its peak, pulling in around $80 million each year. After his fraudulent ways were brought to light in the media, however, many donors sued the minister, meaning the incredible $50 million he’s sitting on today is actually a step down for him. Guess he needs to starts planting more seeds.
Enoch Adeboye
Net Worth: $55 million These Nigerian ministers are really doing well for themselves, huh? Enoch Adeboye was, for a long time, the pastor presiding over the Redeemed Christian Church of God. New laws in Nigeria prevent a single leader from holding sway over a congregation for more than 20 years, and this was the only reason the popular Adeboye stepped down from his position. He does still maintain a general overseer position.
While to English speakers, the preacher’s name lends itself more to being nicknamed “attaboy,” in his homeland, Adeboye is commonly referred to as “Daddy Go.” Due to his yearly prophetic declarations, Daddy Go is also often referred to as “the prophet of the world.” Indeed, he is intent on spreading the Redeemed Christian Church of God all over the globe, and while the majority of his campuses (14,000 odd) are located in Nigeria, he has already developed a global presence.
Jimmy Swaggart
Net Worth: $1.5 million Here’s a controversial one for you: the scandalous tale Jimmy Swaggart. Since the 1950's, Swaggart has been working as an evangelical minister. The emotionally intense preacher launched his own radio show before turning his talents to television evangelism. His impassioned sermons were aired on an astounding 200+ networks, all of which shared his message (and his requests for donations).
As the '80s and '90s rolled around, an already wealthy Swaggart hit the news for all the wrong reasons with a number of sex scandals involving prostitutes coming to light. Swaggart made an epic confession, taking his characteristic intensity to the max with his tearful declaration, “I have sinned” (imagine in a Louisiana accent). Swaggart was defrocked and de-affiliated. No organised religions were keen on having him represent them and even his most ardent supporters pulled away. However, Swaggart didn’t give in. He continued his ministry unaffiliated and, through his incessant efforts, rebuilt both his following and his millionaire status.