Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built and lost the PTL empire, dies at 86

Key points

• Jim Bakker died at age 86, with his second wife, Lori Bakker, announcing his passing on social media without specifying a cause of death.
• Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, built the PTL Club and Heritage USA theme park into a multimillion-dollar empire that attracted millions of viewers and generated over $128 million annually at its peak.
• The empire collapsed in 1987 after a sex scandal involving church secretary Jessica Hahn and financial fraud, leading to Bakker's resignation and eventual conviction on 24 counts of mail and wire fraud.
• Bakker served less than five years of a 45-year prison sentence before being paroled in 1994, after which he remarried and launched a new TV ministry with a focus on apocalyptic themes and health supplements.
• In 2020, Bakker faced legal action from the Missouri attorney general for falsely claiming a health supplement called Silver Solution could cure COVID-19.

Background

Jim Bakker's career was defined by the rise of the 1980s media empire, a 1989 fraud conviction, and a later return to ministry with a focus on apocalyptic themes and health supplements. His death follows a career defined by rapid expansion in the 1980s and a subsequent collapse due to fraud and sex scandals that led to a federal prison sentence. He later returned to television with a new ministry and faced legal action over health claims during the pandemic.

How outlets are covering it

BBC, The New York Times, NBC News, and CNN all report on Jim Bakker's death at age 86, with his second wife, Lori Bakker, announcing his passing on social media. All outlets agree that Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, built the PTL Club and Heritage USA theme park into a multimillion-dollar empire that attracted millions of viewers and generated over $128 million annually at its peak. All outlets also agree that the empire collapsed in 1987 after a sex scandal involving church secretary Jessica Hahn and financial fraud, leading to Bakker's resignation and eventual conviction on 24 counts of mail and wire fraud. All outlets also agree that Bakker served less than five years of a 45-year prison sentence before being paroled in 1994, after which he remarried and launched a new TV ministry with a focus on apocalyptic themes and health supplements. All outlets also agree that in 2020, Bakker faced legal action from the Missouri attorney general for falsely claiming a health supplement called Silver Solution could cure COVID-19. The New York Times emphasizes the 'gospel of prosperity' that Bakker and Tammy Faye preached, while NBC News highlights the 'globe-spanning' nature of the PTL ministry. CNN focuses on Bakker's return to television in the 2000s and his legal issues over health claims during the pandemic.

Why it matters

Jim Bakker's life and career represent a significant chapter in the history of American televangelism, illustrating the rise and fall of a media empire built on the 'gospel of prosperity.' His story highlights the potential for financial and sexual scandals to destroy even the most successful religious institutions, and the legal consequences that can follow. Bakker's later return to ministry and his legal issues over health claims during the pandemic also raise questions about the ethics and responsibilities of religious leaders in the modern era.

What to watch

There is no immediate 'what's next' for Jim Bakker, as he has died. However, his legacy will continue to be discussed in the context of American televangelism and the ethics of religious leaders. His second wife, Lori Bakker, may continue to run the Jim Bakker Show, and his son, Jay Bakker, may continue his own ministry.