Net Worth: $4 million Tony Campolo has both a secular and biblical education, with degrees in sociology and theology, as well as a PhD from Temple University. This highly educated ordained Baptist minister went on to become Bill Clinton’s spiritual advisor during his tenure as president.
Campolo was responsible for founding the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. He also stands out somewhat from others on this list with his rather liberal views on gay marriage. Campolo’s wife believes that, so long as a relationship is monogamous, sexual orientation shouldn’t be an issue and all people should have equal rights to marry. It seems her beliefs softened Campolo up a bit as he has since declared that the government shouldn’t get to dictate who can and can’t marry.
R.C. Sproul
Net Worth: $2 million Founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, Robert Charles Sproul was also a theologian and author. He served as a presbyterian pastor for much of his life and, while he was definitely an old-school preacher, wasn’t afraid of making use of the internet in building his flock of followers.
R.C. Sproul was so enamored with the internet and it’s limitless ability to reach people, in fact, that he started an online radio station, which he called “the Reformation Network.” If you’re waiting for the controversy, well, there really isn’t any with Sproul. From all accounts, he was a highly educated theologian, accomplished author and all-around stand-up guy. Kind of what you hope for in a religious leader right?
George Foreman
Net Worth: $250 million You may know him more as a boxer (or the guy whose name is on that grill in the back of your kitchen cupboard), but this Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion is also a born-again Christian. Not only that but, when he wasn’t throwing punches and creating kitchen equipment, Foreman went so far as to become an ordained minister.
Since his retirement from boxing back in 1997, Foreman has been putting more and more energy into his religious pursuits. He claims he was inspired to take up this path after a post-fight near-death experience. After dropping from a heatstroke, Foreman says he descended into a hellish dimension, one he never wanted to return to, and this sparked his desire to spread the word of the Lord.
N.T. Wright
Net Worth: $2.5 million Here’s another highly educated theologian and preacher: Nicholas Thomas Wright. The former Bishop of Durham is, in fact, considered one of (if not the) most popular scholars of the New Testament in all of the UK. An Anglican minister, Wright commenced his ministry way back in 1975.
While Wright has a squeaky-clean record with no skeletons in his closet, he does hold to some pretty contentious opinions. Wright is an old-school minister who is firmly opposed to same-sex marriage and gay clergy members being allowed by the church.
Jack Van Impe
Net Worth: $2.5 million Jack Van Impe is an interesting character. His biblical knowledge is so great he is known by many as “the Walking Bible.” Van Impe was a Detroit Bible Institute graduate, completing his education in 1952 and immediately launching into his evangelical career. By 1954, Van Impe’s visage could be seen spreading the word of the Lord from television screens all over the nation, under the banner of the Jack Van Impe Ministries show.
The most fascinating thing about Jack is his literal belief in the Revelation story of the Bible. He believes the combined forces of a dark political leader (the Beast) and a false prophet will soon lead us into the return of Christ, the rapture and then the end of the world as we know it. Heavy stuff. While he waits for the end of days, Van Impe is doing pretty well for himself. The Jack Van Impe Ministries International Foundation netted him his millions. While the foundation brings in around $12 million per year, Van Impe receives a reasonable salary of $150,000 for his work.