Jim Bakker, former televangelist whose PTL empire fell, dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the former televangelist whose PTL ministry collapsed in scandal, died on Oct. 5 at age 86, his family announced on June 10, 2026.

The death of the man who helped launch modern Christian television closes a chapter in a story that mixed immense popularity with legal and moral controversy. Bakker’s influence stretched from a nightly talk show that reached 14 million homes in the United States and 40 nations to a sprawling theme‑park resort that once welcomed six million visitors annually.

In the 1970s and early‑80s Bakker co‑hosted the PTL Club with his first wife, Tammy Faye, delivering a charismatic, unscripted format that blended faith‑based teaching with the entertainment style of The Tonight Show. The program’s reach helped fund Heritage USA, a 2,300‑acre Christian resort in South Carolina that featured a luxury hotel, studio, and waterpark.

Bakker championed the prosperity gospel, arguing that God wanted believers to be rich and successful. He authored the 1980 book “Eight Keys to Success” and used PTL funds to purchase multiple homes, jets and luxury items, with lifetime‑partner contributions raising roughly $158 million for the ministry’s expansion.

The empire unraveled after a 1980 sexual encounter with Jessica Hahn was exposed in 1987, leading to Bakker’s resignation and a federal investigation. In 1989 he was convicted of mail and wire fraud, sentenced to 45 years, and served less than five before his release.

After prison Bakker returned to broadcasting with a new ministry near Branson, Missouri, called Morningside, partnering with his second wife, Lori. The venture shifted focus toward end‑times prophecy and survival‑gear marketing, and in 2021 faced a settlement over false COVID‑19 claims related to a product called Silver Solution.

Bakker is survived by his wife Lori, daughter Tammy Sue, son Jay, and five children he adopted with Lori. A public statement from the family did not disclose funeral arrangements.