Controversial American televangelist Jim Bakker has died at the age of 86, bringing to an end the life of one of the most influential and divisive figures in American Christian broadcasting.
Bakker died on Monday, October 5, 2026, his wife, Lori Bakker, confirmed in a statement shared through his ministry’s social media accounts. She did not disclose a cause of death or provide details about his final illness.
“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening,” Lori said.
She described Bakker as a pioneer of Christian television and reflected on their life together, calling him her husband and best friend.
“Our family is grieving and we ask for your prayers and privacy during this time,” she added.
Bakker’s son, Jay Bakker, also confirmed his father’s death. His passing marks the end of a career that moved from enormous television success and religious influence to scandal, a federal prison sentence and, eventually, a controversial return to the pulpit.
Jim Bakker’s rise to Christian television fame
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Bakker met his first wife, Tammy Faye, while attending North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. The couple married in 1961 and began travelling across the United States as evangelists.
Bakker eventually entered television through Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. He and Tammy Faye hosted a children’s programme before Bakker became involved with The 700 Club.
In 1972, he left CBN and two years later established the PTL Satellite Network. The network’s flagship programme, The PTL Club, became one of the biggest Christian television programmes in the United States.
The show turned Jim and Tammy Faye into household names and helped establish their religious broadcasting empire. At its peak, The PTL Club reached as many as 13 million viewers, while their ministry generated tens of millions of dollars annually.
The Bakkers also developed Heritage USA, a vast Christian resort and theme park in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The complex became a major attraction and included hotels, restaurants, religious facilities and recreational attractions.
Their success also brought enormous wealth and criticism over their lavish lifestyle.
Sex scandal triggered Bakker’s downfall
Bakker’s empire began to unravel in 1987 after he acknowledged a sexual encounter with church secretary Jessica Hahn.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged that PTL had paid Hahn money to keep the matter confidential. Bakker resigned from the ministry in March 1987, handing control of PTL to fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell.
The scandal soon opened the door to a deeper examination of PTL’s finances.
Federal investigators focused on the sale of so-called lifetime partnerships connected to accommodation at Heritage USA. Prosecutors argued that Bakker sold far more memberships than the ministry could fulfil and diverted some of the money for purposes unrelated to the promises made to contributors.
In 1989, a federal jury convicted Bakker on 24 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. He initially received a 45-year prison sentence, although the sentence was later reduced.
Bakker eventually served roughly five years before receiving parole in 1994.
His fall also destroyed his marriage. Tammy Faye divorced him in 1992 while he was still in prison. She later remarried and continued to work in television and ministry before dying from cancer in 2007.
Bakker returned to television
After his release, Bakker rebuilt his personal and professional life.
He married Lori Beth Graham in 1998, and the couple later adopted five children. Bakker already had two children with Tammy Faye, giving him seven children across his two marriages.
In 2003, Bakker returned to Christian television with The Jim Bakker Show, which he produced from the Branson, Missouri, area.
His later ministry differed considerably from the prosperity-focused television empire he had built with Tammy Faye. He increasingly focused on apocalyptic preaching, preparedness and survival, including the sale of freeze-dried food to viewers.
However, controversy continued to follow him.
In 2020, Bakker promoted a product known as Silver Solution on his programme while guests made claims about its ability to treat COVID-19. Authorities challenged those claims, and Bakker and his company later reached a settlement that included refunds to customers.
The episode became another major controversy during the final phase of his broadcasting career.
Jim Bakker’s health and final years
Bakker suffered a stroke in 2020 and temporarily stepped away from his television programme. He later returned to broadcasting and continued appearing on The Jim Bakker Show.
As of October 6, 2026, no official cause of death has been released by Lori Bakker, his children or medical authorities.
Lori said Bakker remained committed to his ministry until the end of his life.
“Jim finished his race with faith,” she said.
