Jim Bakker, Televangelist Who Built ‘PTL Club’ Empire, Dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the American televangelist who built the hugely successful “The PTL Club” television ministry with his first wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, has died at the age of 86.

Bakker died on Monday, October 5, 2026, his second wife, Lori Bakker, announced. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

In a statement shared through The Jim Bakker Show, Lori described her husband as a pioneer of Christian television and said he had devoted decades to preaching the Gospel. The couple had been living near Branson, Missouri, where Bakker continued broadcasting after returning to television following his imprisonment.

Bakker and Tammy Faye married in 1961 and began their ministry as travelling preachers before moving into television. Bakker later worked with televangelist Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, where he hosted “The 700 Club” in the 1960s.

In 1974, Bakker and Tammy Faye launched the PTL Satellite Network, with “The PTL Club”  short for “Praise the Lord”  becoming its signature programme.

The programme grew into one of the most prominent Christian television operations in the United States. At its height during the 1980s, it attracted as many as 13 million viewers a night and generated millions of dollars in annual revenue. The ministry also developed Heritage USA, a large Christian-themed resort and entertainment complex in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

The Bakkers became household names, with Jim delivering sermons and interviewing guests while Tammy Faye became known for her singing, distinctive appearance and emotional television performances.

Their empire, however, began to collapse in 1987 after Bakker acknowledged a sexual encounter with church secretary Jessica Hahn. The scandal was followed by revelations concerning the finances of the PTL ministry, including money raised from supporters for Heritage USA projects. Bakker resigned from the ministry as investigations intensified.

In 1989, Bakker was convicted on 24 federal counts involving mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. He was initially sentenced to 45 years in prison, although the sentence was subsequently reduced. He ultimately spent several years behind bars before being released on parole in 1994.

Tammy Faye divorced Bakker in 1992 while he was still in prison. She later married contractor Roe Messner, while Bakker married Lori Beth Graham in 1998.

Following his release, Bakker returned to Christian broadcasting. He launched “The Jim Bakker Show” in 2003 with Lori, and the programme continued to air from Missouri. He remained an active and controversial figure in American evangelical broadcasting for the rest of his life.

Bakker faced further controversy in later years. In 2021, he and his ministry settled a lawsuit over claims that a product marketed on his programme could prevent or cure COVID-19. The settlement included $156,000 in refunds to people who had purchased the product or contributed money to obtain it.

Despite the controversies that reshaped his public image, Bakker remained a significant figure in the history of American televangelism. His rise, spectacular fall and return to broadcasting made him one of the most recognisable personalities in Christian television.

Bakker and Tammy Faye had two children, while Jim and Lori later adopted five children. Tammy Faye died from cancer in 2007.