Jim Bakker, the former American televangelist whose rise to fame and fortune was followed by scandal, imprisonment and a controversial return to Christian broadcasting, has died at the age of 86.
Bakker died on Monday, his wife, Lori Bakker, announced. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
In a statement posted on social media, Lori described Bakker as her husband, best friend and a pioneer of Christian television.
“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord this evening,” she said.
Lori said Bakker had devoted 66 years to preaching the gospel and continued to have a strong commitment to his ministry until his final days.
Bakker became a prominent figure in American evangelical television in the 1970s when he and his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, launched The PTL Club.
The programme developed into a major Christian broadcasting operation, drawing millions of viewers and raising large amounts of money from supporters.
The couple also built Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and resort in South Carolina, which became a major component of their religious empire.
Their success, however, was short-lived.
Bakker stepped down from the PTL ministry in 1987 after revelations about a payment made to Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary who accused him of sexual assault.
The controversy prompted scrutiny of PTL's finances and eventually led to federal charges against Bakker.
In 1989, he was convicted of fraud and conspiracy and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He spent about five years behind bars before being released on parole in 1994.
His imprisonment marked a dramatic fall for a man who had once been among America's best-known television preachers.
His marriage to Tammy Faye also ended following the scandal. She later built a separate career in television before dying in 2007.
After his release, Bakker returned to religious broadcasting and established a new ministry in Missouri. He later presented The Jim Bakker Show, using the programme to discuss Christian prophecy, end-times themes and emergency preparedness.
Bakker's later ministry again attracted controversy.
In 2020, Missouri authorities sued him after he promoted a product as a treatment for COVID-19. The legal dispute was subsequently settled, with Bakker and his ministry agreeing to make restitution.
Nevertheless, he continued broadcasting and preaching for many years, maintaining a loyal audience despite the scandals that had defined much of his public life.
Announcing his death, Lori paid tribute to Bakker's commitment to his faith and supporters.
“Jim loved people deeply. He loved this ministry, and he loved the friends and partners who stood with him throughout the years,” she said.
According to Lori, Bakker remained focused on his religious work even as his health declined.
“Even in his final days, his heart was still for the work of God and for the gospel to continue reaching the world,” she added.
His family has asked for privacy following his death.
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