Jim Bakker, Televangelist Who Built PTL Empire and Served Prison Time, Dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the televangelist who turned a small Christian talk show into one of the most-watched religious programs in America, died in early October 2026 at age 86.

Bakker built the PTL Club alongside his wife Tammy Faye in the 1970s and 1980s, growing it into a broadcast ministry that reached 13 million viewers. He also developed Heritage USA, a Christian-themed resort in South Carolina that included a 2,300-seat church, a hotel, and a water park.

His empire collapsed in 1987 after it was revealed he had paid church secretary Jessica Hahn to keep quiet about a sexual encounter. Two years later, in 1989, a federal jury convicted him of fraud for selling $1,000 "lifetime partnerships" to fund Heritage USA while using the money for other purposes. He served four and a half years in federal prison.

After his release, Bakker spent time in Los Angeles working with homeless ministries. In 2003, he returned to television with "The Jim Bakker Show," broadcasting from Morningside, Missouri. He remarried and continued hosting the program until his health declined in recent years.

Bakker's story became one of the most-cited examples of the dangers of mixing celebrity, money, and ministry. His rise and fall were documented in books, films, and a 1990 TV movie. Despite the scandal, he retained a following among viewers who believed he had genuinely repented.

Christian leaders offered mixed reactions to his death. Some remembered his early ministry work and his later efforts at restoration. Others noted that his case prompted lasting conversations about financial accountability in religious organizations.

No official cause of death was immediately released.