Jim Bakker Dies at 86 After Decades in Christian Television
Televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a multimillion-dollar religious empire before his career imploded in a 1980s sex and financial scandal, died on Monday at the age of 86, cbc.ca reported. His death was announced in a statement by his second wife, Lori Bakker, though an immediate cause of death was not released.
Lori Bakker Announces Passing of Christian Television Pioneer
Lori Bakker shared the news of her husband’s death on “The Jim Bakker Show” Facebook page, stating that he passed away Monday evening, according to cnn.com. For 66 years, Jim gave his life to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Lori Bakker said in the announcement, as reported by cnn.com.
The Rise of The PTL Club and Heritage USA
Jim Bakker first gained widespread prominence alongside his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, hosting The PTL Club across the 1970s and 1980s, CTV News reported. Their empire expanded to include the Heritage USA theme park and hotel in Fort Mill, South Carolina, which attracted over six million visitors in 1986, making it the third-most popular attraction in the United States behind Walt Disney World and Disneyland, according to cnn.com.
Jim Bakker Served Prison Time for Fraud
The ministry collapsed in March 1987 after Jim Bakker resigned following revelations of a 1980 sexual encounter with church secretary Jessica Hahn, CTV News reported. Bakker paid Hahn $115,000 in ministry funds to secure her silence, according to CTV News. In 1988, federal authorities indicted Bakker on mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges. He served just under five years before his release on parole in 1994, cnn.com noted.
Return to Broadcasting and COVID-19 Settlement
Following his release, Bakker married his second wife, Lori, in 1998, and returned to television in 2003 with a new iteration of his program, cbc.ca reported. In June 2021, Bakker and Morningside Church Productions Inc. settled a lawsuit with state and federal officials after promoting a health supplement called Silver Solution as a cure for COVID-19 during 11 episodes in early 2020, cbc.ca reported. The settlement required $156,000 in refunds to consumers who purchased the product, according to cbc.ca.
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