'With a net worth of $150 Million David Oyedepo is the richest pastor in the world' - Forbes
The founder and presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Tabernacle, David
Oyedepo tops the Forbes list of richest pastors in the world with a net
worth of $150 million.
Forbes announced Oyedepo as the richest pastor ahead of other pastors
in Europe. Oyedepo heads the single largest church in the world, which
is otherwise known as Winners’ Chapel.
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.
Also in the list include Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of the Believers’
Love World; T.B Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations; and
Pastor E.A Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.
See the full list below according to Forbes...
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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