Televangelist Jim Bakker dies at age 86

Jim Bakker, the controversial televangelist who built a Christian television empire with his ex-wife Tammy Faye, died on Monday at age 86. His second wife, Lori Bakker, announced his death on social media, stating that he had devoted 66 years to preaching and ended his life filled with faith.

Bakker rose to fame in the 1970s through The PTL Club, a popular TV show which drew up to 13 million nightly viewers. However, scandal marred his ministry: in 1987, he resigned after paying $279,000 in hush money to a church secretary who accused him of sexual assault; and two years later, he was convicted on 24 counts of fraud for misusing $400 million in ministry funds, leading to a prison sentence of 45 years, though he served only about five.

Despite these setbacks, Bakker continued his career after prison and remained influential within conservative Christian circles until his death.