Jim Bakker, the controversial US televangelist known for his rise to fame and subsequent fall from grace, has died at the age of 86. His death was announced by his second wife, Lori Bakker, on social media, where she expressed her sorrow, stating, "It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening." The cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Rise to Fame
Bakker built a multimillion-dollar empire through his television ministry, particularly known for the show The PTL Club, which stood for "Praise the Lord" and "People That Love." At its peak, the PTL ministry attracted 13 million viewers across 200 TV stations and generated $129 million annually. He and his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, started with a small TV ministry and expanded it into a massive operation with 2,000 employees and the Heritage USA complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Fall from Grace
Bakker's career took a dramatic turn in the late 1980s. In 1989, he was convicted of fraud and conspiracy, sentenced to 45 years in prison for defrauding followers out of $158 million through a scheme promising lifetime vacations at his theme park. He spent four and a half years behind bars before being released. Judge Robert Potter criticized Bakker, stating, "Those of us who do have a religion are sick of being saps for money-grubbing preachers and priests."
