Overview
- His wife Lori Bakker announced late Monday on Instagram that Jim Bakker has died, asked for prayers and privacy, and said he spent 66 years preaching the Gospel; the family has not released a cause of death.
- Bakker was 86 at the time of his death and remained active in ministry through The Jim Bakker Show, which he hosted with his wife Lori on digital platforms in recent years.
- He rose to national prominence in the 1970s as co-host of The PTL Club and co-founder of Heritage USA, a faith-based theme park and resort that drew millions of visitors.
- The PTL empire collapsed in the late 1980s after revelations about misuse of ministry funds and a paid hush agreement; Bakker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy, sentenced to 45 years, and served roughly five years before parole.
- Bakker’s story has stayed in public view through film and television portrayals and continued broadcasts, shaping ongoing discussion of televangelism, fundraising practices, and accountability.