There are well-known preachers in the Christian community who have not only had a profound effect on their followers but also earned large fortunes.
We’ll list the top 10 richest pastors in the world along with their net worth in this article.These people, who come from various nations and origins, have amassed impressive fortunes via their involvement in the church, economic enterprises, and entrepreneurial prowess, solidifying their positions among the richest pastors worldwide.
Pastors are ordained priests who serve as congregational leaders. Since the beginning of time, they have played a crucial role in society and are revered as “shepherds,” “helpers,” and “givers.”
How Pastors pastors make money from their churches
The different methods that pastors make money from their churches are listed below:
1. Offerings: During church services, churchgoers voluntarily give money as an offering.
2. Tithes: As a type of tithe, churchgoers give their pastors 10% of their take-home pay.
3. Seeds: As a sign of their faith and support, churchgoers frequently sow cash seeds to their pastors.
4. At Thanksgiving ceremonies, worshippers show their appreciation to God by donating monetary gifts and material possessions.
5. First Fruits: People may give their first paycheck or other source of cash to the church. Additionally, churchgoers frequently donate their January earnings at the start of each year.
6. Partnerships: To support various causes or projects, pastors may ask churchgoers for financial partnerships.
7. Birthdays: To honor their pastors’ birthdays, churchgoers frequently give their pastors lavish gifts.
8. Spiritual Goods: Some pastors offer their congregations spiritual goods like blessed water, oil, stickers, aprons, mantles, etc. for sale.
9. Information marketing: Pastors may offer their sermons and teachings for sale to churchgoers and the wider public in the form of books, audiobooks, videos, and other resources.
10. Churchgoers occasionally give money to support their pastors and the work of the ministry.
It’s crucial to remember that while these strategies can help a pastor make money, different churches and religious institutions may have different traditions and procedures. Check out the top 10 wealthiest churches in Nigeria.
Top 10 Richest Pastors in the world and their net worth
Below is the list of the ten (10) richest pastors in the world, along with their respective net worth:
1. Bishop David Oyedepo (Net worth: $250 million)
Bishop David Oyedepo, a Nigerian born in September 1954, is the founder and general overseer of Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel. Revered as the father of faith, Oyedepo is renowned for his practical teachings on faith and prosperity.
With his vast wealth, Oyedepo owns one private jet, two private universities, one polytechnic, a secondary school, and various other investments. In 1981, he established Living Faith Church in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Since then, the church has experienced remarkable growth, boasting over 400 branches within Nigeria and numerous others in foreign countries such as the UK and the US.
The church’s impressive auditorium, located at Canaan Land in Ota, Ogun State, can accommodate approximately 50,000 worshipers, making it the largest church auditorium worldwide. Bishop David Oyedepo’s ministry and entrepreneurial endeavors have contributed significantly to his notable net worth.
2. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Net Worth $200 million)
Another rich pastor in the world is Chris Oyakhilome, the founder and President of Believers’ Love World Inc., popularly known as Christ Embassy. He is a Nigerian, and was born in Edo state in December, 1963. Pastor Chris started his ministry while in the university at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State in Nigeria. His Church, Christ Embassy has grown so tremendously from little campus gathering to one of the biggest church in Africa.
Pastor Chris church is also known to be the mega house of Gospel musicians in Nigeria as he has most popular gospel singers like Sinach, Frank Edwards, Bu-chi and many others.
Pastor Chris also has investment in Real Estate and Music Productions. He is the author and publisher of the best selling “Rhapsody of Realities”, a daily devotion.
3. Bishop T. D Jake (Net worth $150 million)
Thomas Dexter Jake is a pastor in the United States of America. He is a black American, born in the year 1957, West Virginia in US. His true origin is not very clear as he has traced to be a Nigerian from Igbo ethnicity.
T.D Jake is the founder and general overseer of the Potters House, located in Dallas Texas United State with over 20,000 worshipers. He is good preacher, and has won a ‘Grammy’ award from one of his many beautiful songs. Most of his wealth comes from selling of his books, songs and movies.
4. Pastor E. A Adeboye (Net worth $77 million)
Enoch Adejare Adeboye is the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He is a Nigerian from Osun State, born in March 1942.
He has the highest number of church branch in Nigeria. Adeboye’s target is to have at least one branch of the RCCG in every home in Nigeria.
So far, he has over 15,000 branches in Nigeria, and the number keep increasing geometrically. He’s the most respected Pastor in Nigeria for his rare humble life.
Pastor Adeboye studied Applied Mathematics from the University of Lagos, and he had been a professor of Mathematics at University of Lagos.
5. Pastor Benny Hinn (Net worth $59 million)
Pastor Benny Hinn is an Israeli televangelist born in December 1952. He is among the richest pastors. Benny Hinn is a preacher, author, speaker and Televangelist. He is also a faith healer.
Pastor Benny specialize in teaching about the Holy Spirit. He has written several books about the Holy spirit including Good morning Holy Spirit, The Anointing, He Touched Me and several others.
6. Pastor Creflo Dollar (Net worth $47 million)
Creflo Augustus Dollar is an American Gospel preacher and televangelist, born in January 1962.
He is the founder and senior Pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia. He has over 30,000 worshipers in his church.
Pastor Dollar owns two Rolls Royce, a private jet and homes worth millions of dollars in America.
7. Pastor Kenneth Copeland (Net worth $45 million)
Kenneth Copeland is an American author, televangelist, musician and public speaker. He is known for his prosperity preaching.
He’s the founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries located in Texas United State. He was born in Lubbock, Texas in December 1936. Copeland was a musician before he got born again.
8. Late Billy Graham (Net worth $34 million)
Billy is an American televangelist and about the longest serving evangelist in contemporary times before his death. He was born in 1918. Billy became one of the influential evangelist in United State.
He had been actively involved in the American politics, offering prayers and counselling to a host of American Presidents. His television broadcast has a lifespan of 60 years before his retirement in 2005.
Billy preached large number of people more than any other person in the world. His spiritual impact has affected the lives of over 2.2 billion people before his death in February 21, 2018 at age 99.
9. Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya (Net worth $25 million)
His church is a pentecostal institution with a distinctive doctrine that sets it apart from other Pentecostal congregations. The church has a reputation for aggressive prayer sessions against evil and darkness, generally with the refrain “die by fire.”
There is no question that he is truly God sent and has the support of the Almighty since God has been manifesting himself via his ministry. The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries’ main office is in the Yaba neighborhood of Lagos State. The church, which draws more than 12,000 people to every program, has been dubbed the “largest single congregation in Africa.”
It is important to mention that Mountain of Fire has been around for more than 20 years. The church is well known for its militant prayer tradition, which has been both well praised and widely condemned.
With branches throughout the United Kingdom, Nigeria, the United States, Canada, Asia, and over 100 other countries, the church has grown to be one of the largest in the world.
10. Pastor David Ibiyeomie (Net Worth $10 Million)
The founder and head pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie is a Nigerian pastor, author, and television evangelist. He is ranked among the wealthiest pastors not just in Nigeria but the entire African continent with an estimated net worth of $10 million.
On April 13, 1997, Salvation Ministries formally launched its full-time operations. Today, the Ministry has over 100,000 adult regular worshipers in the headquarters alone, making it one of the Nigerian churches that is growing the quickest. Among the biggest auditoriums in the world is the Ministry’s Cathedral Site (Hand of God) at Igwuruta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Modern, high-tech facilities were installed for around N5 billion.
The church’s mission is to take the gospel to every nation. The church is believed to have established over 1,000 satellite churches and over 20,000 home cell centers around the world to carry out its mission.