Story summary
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.
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Jim Bakker, the televangelist who co-founded a lucrative media empire with his first wife, Tammy Faye, before a high-profile sex scandal and federal fraud convictions brought down his ministry, has died at the age of 86.
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scandal → log → 86
His death was confirmed in a statement on Monday by his second wife, Lori Bakker.
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death → confirm → wife
The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
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cause → disclose → death
"He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry," she said.
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she → honor → life
Based near the entertainment hub of Branson, Missouri, the couple had produced and hosted "The Jim Bakker Show" in the area since launching it in 2003.
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couple → base → 2003
Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020.
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Bakker → suffer → 2020
Decades prior, it was another evangelical broadcast that elevated Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker to national prominence.
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that → elevate → prominence
Their celebrity status routinely made them subjects of satire on late-night comedy programs and "Saturday Night Live," and their life story inspired the September 2021 feature film "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."
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story → make → Faye
At its peak in the mid-1980s, the couple's religious organization reached up to 13 million viewers each night and operated the Heritage USA Christian theme park and hotel complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
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organization → reach → Mill
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Bakker studied at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, where he met Tammy Faye.
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he → bear → Faye
After marrying in 1961, the pair left school to begin an itinerant ministry, traveling the country to perform at tent revivals and local churches, with Bakker preaching while his wife sang and played the accordion.
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wife → marry → accordion
Their efforts caught the interest of televangelist Pat Robertson, leading to a children’s program on his Christian Broadcasting Network in 1965.
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efforts → catch → 1965
By 1966, Bakker was hosting the religious talk show "The 700 Club."
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Bakker → host → show
Bakker departed CBN in 1972 and established the PTL Satellite Network two years later.
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Bakker → depart → Network
Its centerpiece broadcast became "The PTL Club," short for "Praise the Lord."
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broadcast → become → Lord
At its height in the 1980s, the program generated millions of dollars annually from millions of devoted followers.
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program → generate → followers
Filmed largely at their extensive resort south of Charlotte, North Carolina, the show blended guest interviews with Christian musical acts.
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show → film → acts
Bakker delivered encouraging sermons, while Tammy Faye—distinguished by her dramatic mascara—performed music.
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Faye → deliver → music
The couple’s prominent lifestyle and Tammy Faye’s recognizable appearance made them frequent targets for television comedy.
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them → make → comedy
The ministry collapsed in March 1987 following Bakker’s admission of a sexual encounter with church clerk Jessica Hahn.
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ministry → collapse → Hahn
Bakker stepped down from his position, transferring control to pastor Jerry Falwell.
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Bakker → step → Falwell
Tammy Faye remained supportive of her husband publicly during the scandal, which came to be viewed by critics as emblematic of 1980s televangelist excess.
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which → remain → excess
Conditions worsened further.
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Conditions → worsen → ?
Federal prosecutors indicted Bakker in 1988 on conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud charges tied to PTL financial operations.
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prosecutors → indict → operations
Following his conviction, he received a 45-year prison term, which was later reduced to eight years.
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which → follow → years
At a media briefing after the verdict, Tammy Faye addressed reporters by singing the hymn "On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand."
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I → address → Rock
The marriage ended in divorce in 1992 while Bakker remained incarcerated.
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Bakker → end → 1992
Tammy Faye later wed building contractor Roe Messner, who had built the Heritage USA property and was convicted of bankruptcy fraud in 1995.
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who → we → 1995
She died of colon cancer in 2007.
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She → die → 2007
Paroled in 1994, Bakker married Lori in 1998, and five years later they established "The Jim Bakker Show" on the PTL network.
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they → parole → network
In June 2021, Bakker and his media company resolved a lawsuit over claims made in early 2020 that a health supplement called Silver Solution could cure COVID-19.
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supplement → resolve → COVID-19
The settlement called for $156,000 in refunds to people who purchased or donated to receive the product following claims made during 11 broadcasts.
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who → call → broadcasts
Bakker had two children with his first wife, and he and Lori adopted five children in 2002.
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he → have → 2002
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