We’ve all heard of world’s richest man, woman, pharmacist, surgeon etc. But have you ever wondered on who the richest pastors might be? Don’t be surprised that pastors all around the globe are classified as rich and wealthy. They are no longer the group of people we recognize as poor. They have gone past those days when the church was associated with poverty. They now live in a world where the heavenly blessings are collected and gathered here on earth. They ride expensive cars, fly in private jets, construct multi-million dollars edifices that keep breaking limits. Indeed, it’s a century of a luxurious lifestyle for pastors across the globe all thanks to tithe and gifts from church members.
Truth be told, a few pastors made their wealth through their own investments and are touching lives of people. But, it still cannot be denied that most pastors earn from the proceeds of gifts from their church members. Another thing that contributes to the growth of their wealth is that their revenue is untaxed and the credit goes to the visionary.
Top 10 Richest Pastors In The World
Below is a list of the top ten richest pastors in the world and their net worth according to the recent report by Forbes, As of November 2023:
10. Joyce Meyer $8 Million
Evangelist, author, and motivational speaker from the United States, Pastor Joyce Meyer, has a net worth of $8 million. Joyce Meyer, whose real name is Pauline Joyce Hutchison, was sexually molested as a young kid. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri. In primary school, she had a new-found faith, and as her family’s situation grew worse, she grew more and more devoted to her faith. Her Savior’s Lutheran Church in St. Louis invited her to accept the position of associate pastor. She ultimately expanded to airing them on the radio due to how well-liked her bible study classes had become. She established Life in the Word as her own ministry in 1985, and her radio program soon spread throughout the Midwest. In 1995, she started hosting a weekly television program called “Enjoying Everyday Life” on WGN-TV and BET. The program is still airing. She now travels on her private aircraft from engagement to engagement as a very well-liked public speaker. On Time Magazine’s 2005 list of the “25 Most Influential Evangelicals,” she came in at number 17.
9. Evangelist Benny Hinn – $25 Million
Evangelist Toufik Benedictus Hinn simply known as Benny Hinn is a popular name in the gospel world. He is a renowned evangelist, preacher and author and hails from Isreal. He is known for his numerous healings and miracles performed in crusades held in large stadiums and auditoriums worldwide. He is the founder of Orlando Christian Center which is based in the United States. The prosperity preacher is recognized by Forbes to be the 9th richest pastor in the world with a net worth of $25 million.
8. Creflo Dollar – $27 Million
Pastor Creflo Dollar is the general overseer of the World Changers Church international. It is a non-denominational church located in Georgia, United States. The church boasts of hosting about 300,000 congregation per service. Pastor Creflo dollar is indeed a wealthy pastor with his private jet, mansion, 2 Rolls Royce and several other properties to his name. He is equally one of the many controversial clergymen in the world and has stoked controversies over the years. Despite this, Creflo Dollar has a large following of faithfuls across the world. In 2022, Creflo Dollar confessed that his understanding and teachings on tithing were wrong, asking his followers to do away with books he may have written concerning the subject. Creflo Dollar’s net worth is estimated to be around $27 million.
7. Enoch Adeboye – $39 Million
Born on March 2nd, 1942 in Ilesha, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye is the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is also one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and Africa. He was ordained the general overseer of the church in 1981 by the founder of the church, Pa Akindayomi. Upon his ordination, Pastor Adeboye ensured the growth of the church from few branches to over 18,000 branches in 197 countries across the world. The pastor also owns a private university, Redeemers University, private jets and authors several books. Pastor Adeboye is the seventh richest pastors in the world according to Forbes with a met worth of $39 million.
6. Joel Osteen – $40 Million
Pastor Joel Osteen is the presiding pastor of the Lakewood Church, located in Houston, Texas. He inherited the church from his father, John Osteen after his death in 1959. Under his leadership, Pastor Joel Osteen ensured the growth of the church from a population of 5,000 to a current population of over 60,000, making it the biggest protestant church in the United States of America. The renowned pastor is also an author with most of his books recognized as the no 1 New York Times Best Seller. His sermons and preachings are also broadcasted in over 100 countries around the world thereby generating over 800 million views. His YouTube channel subscriber list also keeps growing everyday. According to recent releases by Forbes, Joel Osteen has a net worth of $40 million.
5. Chris Oyakhilome – $50 Million
One of the most widely recognized pastor known for his faith healings and teachings on prosperity, pastor Chris Oyakhilome is a pastor to be reckoned with in a list of world richest pastors. His church, Believers Loveworld, also known as Christ embassy is one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and the world at large. Like most men of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is also an author and has published many Christian books. He is the author of the world’s best selling daily devotional, Rhapsody of Realities. He also has investments in real estate, hospitality, magazines, music and TV stations. He is also a renowned philanthropist. Among his philanthropic acts are the free tuition primary and secondary schools, Inner City Mission in different parts of Nigeria and some countries of the world. He has a current net worth of $50 million.
4. Bishop T.D. Jakes – $147 Million
Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes was born in West Virginia in the United States and has his ancestry lineage traced to Nigeria. He is the founder of The Potter’s House, which is also one of the fastest growing churches in Dallas, Texas. The church also boasts of having the largest congregation in the vicinity.
Asides being a pastor and preacher, Bishop T.D. Jakes is also a singer, actor, movie producer and author with some movies and several publications to his name. His wealth mostly comes from the annual mega-fest festival aired over the word Network, light source and other programs organized by his ministry. The Bishop also lives a luxurious lifestyle and his mansion, fleet of expensive cars and private jet can attest to that fact. In total, his net worth is estimated to be $147 million.
3. Bishop David Oyedepo – $200 Million
Bishop David Oyedepo is a Nigerian based pastor. He is the founder and general overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide also known as Winner’s Chapel International. He is among the most successful and accomplished pastors in the world. His church has many branches worldwide and boasts of having one of the largest auditoriums in the country.
Apart from his pastoral job, Bishop Oyedepo has chains of business and investments. He owns a primary school named Kingdom Heritage model school, a secondary school named Faith Academy and two private universities, covenant university and Landmark university, Dominion publisher, Dominion air, among others. He is also the author of several best selling books. Bishop Oyedepo boasts of having several landed properties both home and abroad, exquisite and private jets. He is indeed a wealthy pastor with a net worth that keeps growing. Presently, David Oyedepo is the richest pastor in Nigeria with a net worth of $200 million.
2. Kenneth Copeland – $300 Million
Kenneth Copeland is an American based preacher, author and televangelist born in December 6, 1936. He is the founder of Eagle Mountain International Church and the Kenneth Copeland Ministries, which is located in Forth Worth, Texas. He is popular for his preachings on prosperity. He once wrote that parishioners will get a “hundredfold” returns when they give to God. The preacher also has several controversies surrounding him, among which are his use of donations and tax exemption to finance the purchase of a mansion, airport, private jets and several other lavish spending. He also told his followers to continue paying tithes even if they lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also claimed to have destroyed the virus thereby ending the pandemic. Even with the controversies surrounding him, Copeland’s sermons are broadcast across the world on the Victory channel. Kenneth Copeland also has several facilities, such as; an airport that operates domestic and international flights, a bible college, television channel, among others. All these contributes to his $300 million net worth.
1. Alph Lukau – $500 Million
Pastor Alph Lukau is a highly controversial pastor who hails from Congo. He is the founder of South African Alleluia Ministry international (AMI). He is a renowned preacher who is described by his followers as a man of god who has the ability to heal any sickness and infirmity. He is also reported to have raised many people from the dead. His ministry has branches in several countries across Africa and keeps expanding. His entire ministry is said to worth a billion dollars. The pastor keeps gaining popularity especially with the controversies surrounding him. His exact net worth is a source of discord since there is no estimate from Forbes, but it is believed that his net worth should be nothing less than $500 million.