Net Worth: $20 million We know what you’re thinking: “wait, wasn’t Kirk Cameron that kid from Growing Pains?” Yep, he sure was. The child star has gone on to become an evangelist who spreads his message through The Way of the Master ministry which has a radio show affiliated with it. Kirk is also responsible for The Firefly Foundation, which he co-founded with his wife (another child star), Chelsea Noble.
Along with his charitable and ministerial work, Cameron has continued to make film and television appearances. He narrated a documentary called Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure and has also worked on a number of Christian-themed productions like the trilogy Left Behind, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force, and Left Behind: World at War, all of which are based on survival in the apocalyptic world that remains after the return of Christ and rapture of the faithful.
Rick Warren
Net Worth: $25 million Rick Warren isn’t just the pastor of a megachurch, he’s pastor of the sixth largest megachurch in the US. Which, given the amount of times we’ve mentioned megachurches already in this article, and give the fact that we’ve barely scratched the surface of them, is no small claim to fame.
The evangelical Christian preacher, who presides over California’s Saddleback Church, is also an author whose book, The Purpose Driven Life made the New York Times best-seller list after selling an incredible 30 million copies worldwide (and counting). Warren and his wife, Kay, are global thinkers with initiatives in place to assist people with HIV, combat global warming and work towards peace in war-torn regions. They definitely don’t play small with their ambitions!
Joel Osteen
Net Worth: $40 million Joel Osteen is a preacher considered by most to fall in the prosperity gospel category. You may have noticed that, as we’re getting to the top end of the net wealth stakes, more and more of these seed faith preachers are popping up. Interesting, huh? Though, to be fair, Osteen does not see himself as being akin to your regular seed faith televangelist. He sees a distinction between what he teaches and the money-centric messages of most prosperity gospel proponents.
While money is apparently neither here nor there for Osteen, he has been estimated as having a net worth of around $40 million. Pretty impressive for someone who’s not that impressed by money. Osteen presides over Lakewood Church, which currently boasts the largest Protestant congregation in the US. His messages tend to be focused more on love and the mercy of the Lord rather than hell and divine judgment.
Billy Graham
Net Worth: $25 million William Franklin Graham Jr. was arguably the most famous evangelist of our modern era. Known to most as Billy Graham, the pastor has delivered his sermons in churches, over the radio and on television. He was known for his strong religious and political views, ideas which he staunchly supported throughout his career.
By 1947, Graham was already presiding over the Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis. At just 29 years of age at the time, his appointment to the position made him the youngest ever president of a United States college. Graham was known to be in friendly terms with the late Queen Elizabeth II of England and was regularly invited to events attended by the royal family. Like a couple of other preachers on our list, Graham also served as a presidential adviser. However, he had the remarkable distinction of offering spiritual counsel to not just one but three US presidents: Eisenhower, Johnson, and Nixon.
Charles Stanley
Net Worth: $1.5 million Here’s a fact that will send a chill down the spines of all There Will Be Blood fans: Charles Stanley was just a kid when he commenced his Christian ministry. At the tender age of 14, he was already building a name for himself among his flock. Stanley has attained a handful of degrees, starting with his bachelor’s degree and culminating with a master and doctorate in theology.
He got his star as a preacher for the First Baptist Church, and from there it was only ever onwards and upwards for this ambitious man. He founded the international Christian outreach organization, In Touch Ministries and has his hands in many money-making pies. He can be seen and heard on television and radio stations across the world. Stanley credits much of his wealth to having read the influential book, Think and Grow Rich in his younger years.