Top 15 Richest Pastors In The World [2024]

With the growth of churches all over the world, the pastoral ministry has flourished, producing a large number of new pastors as well as established ones who can boast of extreme wealth thanks to the income generated by their church ministry, population growth, book writing, and some of their other lucrative investments. In this article we have compiled a list of the top 10 richest pastors in the world.

These pastors and known for their global religious empires, massive congregation  and also the  profound impact on the spiritual lives of their followers. While their prosperity is a subject of both admiration and controversy, it undeniably reflects the influence and reach they have achieved in the world of faith and beyond. So without further ado, here the top 10 richest pastors in the world.

1. Edir Macedo

• Net worth: $1.2 billion

Edir Macedo is a prominent Brazilian religious leader, businessman and the richest pastor in the world with an estimated  net worth of $1.2 billion, according to Forbes.  His wealth primarily stems from his role as the president and owner of Rede Record, the second largest television network in Brazil.

Macedo began his career as civil servant before venturing into the ministry business, establishing the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in 1977. Over the years, the church has grown significantly and become one of the largest churches in Brazil. The church cathedral Temple of Solomon  cost approximately $300 Million

Macedo continued his fulfilling career  as media businessman, when he acquired Rede Record in 1990. This enterprise  played a pivotal role in his accumulation of wealth.  He establish another television network in  Atlanta, United States, expanding his media influence across the globe.

2. Alph Lukau

• Net worth: $1 billion

Alph Lukau is the founder of of Alleluia Ministries International, based in South Africa, and one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion.  He established  the minstry  in 2002 and has since attracted a substantial following, with thousands of members worldwide.

Lukau’s influence extends to various countries, where he has opened branches, including South Africa, Angola. Congo, Zambia, Namibia, DR Congo, among others. Aside from being a renowned pastor, Lukau is also known for his  his extravagant lifestyle, which includes owning a private jet, luxury cars and  motorcycle

3 . Kenneth Copeland

• Net worth: $ 750 million

Richest Pastor in the World, Kenneth Copeland

Kenneth Copeland, is an American televangelist, author and and one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of  $750 Million. He the founder of Ken Copeland Ministries and is widely recognized as the most prominent figure associated with the rise of “prosperity gospel” type evangelism.

Prior to his life as Minister, Kenneth was a successful  music recording artist, onе оf hіѕ ѕоngѕ, “Рlеdgе оf Lоvе,” peaked аt thе twеlfth роѕіtіоn іn thе Тор 40 bіllbоаrd сhаrt in  іn 1957.  Despite this Kenneth accumulated most of his fortune as a gospel Evangelist. He owns private jet, Mansions, and multiple  luxurious vehicles.

4. Valdemiro Santiago

• Net worth: $350 million

Valdemiro Santiago, a Brazilian preacher known for his leadership of the World Church of the Power of God. He is one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net  worth of $350 Million. He began  his religious career,  working as a preacher in the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

However, he allegedly experienced disagreements with the church’s management, which led to his expulsion. In response to these differences, Valdemiro Santiago founded the World Church of the Power of God. Over the years, he has established several other churches, contributing to the growth of his religious empire.

His purchase of a $45 million jet in 2012,  sparked discussions and debates about the use of church funds for personal luxuries within the religious community and the broader public.

5. David Oyedepo

• Net worth: $150 million

Founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo

Bishop David Oyedepo hаѕ а nеt wоrth оf $150 mіllіоn. He was once the  richest pastor in Africa and the second richest pastor in the world. He fоundеd “Lіvіng Fаіth Сhurсh” аnd ѕеrvеѕ а  presiding Bishop of the megachurch  Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel International.

The Winners’ Chapel International network of churches is located in over 300 cities, in all states of Nigeria, and several cities in 45 African nations, including Dubai, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Тhіѕ Nіgеrіаn рrіеѕt іѕ аlѕо thе оwnеr оf ѕеvеrаl luхurіоuѕ рrореrtіеѕ thаt іnсludеѕ four рrіvаtе јеts, аnd mаnѕіоnѕ іn Nigeria and thе Unіtеd Ѕtаtеѕ оf Аmеrіса. He is the Chancellor of Covenant University and Landmark University. He was named in 2011 by Forbes magazine as the richest pastor in Nigeria.

6. Shepherd Bushiri

• Net worth: $150 million

Shepherd Bushiri  is a Malawian preacher,  businessman and one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $150 Million. He is founder of the Christian non-denominational church known as the Enlightened Christian Gathering based in South Africa.

The church has headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa, with branches in other African countries and around the world. Beyond his religious endeavours, Bushiri is a businessman, and the CEO of the Shepherd Bushiri Investments, which span various sectors like real estate, oil, transportation, and mining.

Bushiri also owns a television channel, a telecommunications company, various farms, properties, sports academies and universities. All these ventures contributes to his success as one of the as one of the wealthiest pastors in the world and one of the most affluent people in Africa.

7. Benny Hinn

• Net worth: $120 million

Benny Hinn is an Israeli televangelist is best known for his regular “Miracle Crusades”—revival meetings or faith healing summits that are usually held in stadiums in major cities, across the world. He is  also one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $120 million.

Benny founded the Orlando Christian Center in 1983 in Florida, United States and is  also a author of several Christian books. He attained international acclaim for his his television program, This Is Your Day, where he airs clips of supposed miracles from  his Miracle Crusades.

Benny Hinn claims to have spoken to one billion people through his crusades, including memorable crusades with attendance of 7.3 million people (in three services) in India, the largest healing service in recorded history. Tens of millions also attend his Holy Spirit Miracle Crusades each year.

8. Romildo Ribeiro Soares

• Net worth: $120 million

Romildo Ribeiro Soares  is a Brazilian televangelist, missionary and  businessman. He is the founder and leader of the International Church of Grace of God (IIGD), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in Brazil. The church  has over three thousand branches spread across Brazil and the world .

Prior to this Romildo has founded the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in 1977, together with his brother-in-law Edir Macedo , who was then his assistant.The plan for expansion led to  disagreement between both men, ultimately leading to a breakup of the partnership.

Beyond his religious endeavours, Romildo owns several media outlets , including a television and radio network , website, pay TV,  record label and publisher.  He is also  the presenter of the most global Brazilian program, Show da Fé , reaching 193 countries.  According to Forbes , he is the fourth richest pastor in Brazil.

9. Enoch Adeboye

Pastor EA Adeboye, the  General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

• Net worth: $110 million

Pastor Enoch Adeboye is one of the most influential pastors in Nigeria and the entire continent of Africa. He is also one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $110 Million. He began his spiritual journey in  the Redeemed Christian Church of God in 1973, where he initially served as an interpreter.

Adeboye was ordained as a pastor in 1975 by the founder of the church Pa. Josiah Akindayomi. By 1981, he had become the General Overseer of the church. Under his leadership, the church experienced unprecedented growth, expanding to approximately 198 nations with over 14 million worshippers in Nigeria alone.

Adeboye has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as one of the 50 most powerful people in the world by Newsweek in 2008. While a significant portion of his income is derived from his role as the General Overseer, he has also authored numerous books, including the popular “Open Heavens Daily Devotional

10. Chris Oyakhilome

• Net worth: $100 million

Chris Oyakhilome

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, with an estimated net worth of $100 million is one of the richest pastors in the world.  He is the founder оf “Веlіеvеrѕ’ Lоvе Wоrld Іnсоrроrаtеd a Сhrіѕtіаn mіnіѕtrу and the Mega Church Christ Embassy located in Lagos, Nigeria and branches in the UK, US, Ghana and South Africa.

Oyakhilome’s  Веlіеvеrѕ’ Lоvе Wоrld Іnсоrроrаtеd runѕ асrоѕѕ ѕеvеrаl brаnсhеѕ thаt іnсludе thе thrее Сhrіѕtіаn ТV сhаnnеlѕ, all of which broadcast to various countries across the world, a thе “Lоvе wоrld” bооk ѕеrіеѕ, NGО Іnnеr Сіtу Міѕѕіоnѕ fоr Сhіldrеn, thе Rhарѕоdу оf Rеаlіtіеѕ, аnd thе Неаlіng Ѕсhооl.

In 2017, Oyakhilome, in partnership with Benny Hinn, created the Christian cable channel LoveWorld USA. He also held the largest single-night event in Nigeria in 2006 with 3.5 million people in attendance.

11.  Joel Osteen

• Net worth: $100 million

American pastor, televangelist, and author, Joel Osteen joins the list of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $100 Million. He is the founder of the Lakewood Church is Houston, Texas, USA. He is  is one of the more prominent figures associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement.

Lakewood Church is a non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch. It is among the largest congregations in the United States, averaging about 45,000 attendees per week.  This church hosts four English-language services and two Spanish-language services per week.

Joel Osteen is known for his weekly televised services. As of 2018, his televised sermons were seen by approximately 10 million viewers in the US and several million more in over 100 countries weekly. Osteen has also written several best-selling books, where he reportedly made most of his fortune.

12. Jesse Duplantis

• Net worth: $80 million

Jesse Duplantis is an American pastor and one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $80 Million. He is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries and is also one of the prominent preachers and figures of the  Christian Evangelical Charismatic movement.

Like other people on this list, Jesse Duplantis is a successful author, with numerous best selling Christian books to his name. He also served on the Board of Regents of Oral Roberts University, which awarded him an honorary doctorate, until late 2007. He is also known to be involved in numerous business endeavours.

His intended purchase of a $54 million jet in 2018,  sparked discussions and debates about the use of church funds for personal luxuries within the religious community and the broader public. Duplantis said that his organization, Jesse Duplantis Ministries, had already paid for three private jets by 2006,

13. Creflo Dollar

• Net worth: $70 million

Image Credit: TBN Africa

Creflo Dollar is an American pastor, televangelist, and the founder of the non-denominational Christian World Changers Church International based in Atlanta, USA. He began his ministry in  1986 and is one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $70 Million. .

Creflo is also the presidents and head of the Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association (formerly called International Covenant Ministries), Creflo Dollar Ministries, and Arrow Records. He is renowned for his contentious ideas on prosperity theology. He’s been attacked for leading a wealthy life for a very long time.

He owns two Rolls-Royces, a private jet, and expensive properties like a million-dollar house in Atlanta, a $2.5 million home in Demarest, New Jersey, and a Manhattan residence that he purchased for $2.5 million in 2006

14. Rick Warren

• Net worth: $70 million

Rick Warren, with an estimated net worth of $70 Million Joins the list of the richest pastors in the world. He is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor  who founded the Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in Lake Forest, California.

Warren claims that when he was a 19-year-old student at California Baptist University, he received a call to full-time ministry. He began his ministry after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry across various institutions in california.

Warren claimed to have decided to “reverse the tithe” in 2006, following the success of his book The Purpose Driven Life, by giving 90% of his income to three foundations and ceasing to take a salary from the church. Among his mentors are Peter Drucker, Billy Graham, and his own father, a former baptist minister.

15. Bishop TD Jakes

• Net worth: $70 million

Bishop TD Jakes is an American minister and one of the richest pastors in the world, with an estimated net worth of $50 Million. He is presiding Bishop of thе nоn-dеnоmіnаtіоnаl mеgасhurсh, ‘Тhе Роttеr’ѕ Ноuѕе Техаѕ, USA. Prior to this he served as a pastor in various churches including Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith

Aside from bеіng а рrіеѕt, TD Jakes іѕ аlѕо аn Author fіlm рrоduсеr аnd mаkеr. He founded  t”TDJ Enterprises” in 1995,  an Umbrella company which publishes his books and distribute his films. Some of workѕ іnсludе “Wіnnіе Маndеlа,” “Неаvеn іѕ fоr Rеаl,” аnd “Міrасlеѕ frоm Неаvеn.”

Bishop TD Jakes also hosted “Get Ready,” a weekly radio and television program with nationwide syndication, from 1995 to 1996. Тhе mајоr ѕоurсеѕ оf hіѕ wеаlth аrе рrоfіtѕ gеnеrаtеd frоm hіѕ fіlmѕ, hіѕ gоѕреl muѕіс, аnd frоm thе ѕаlе оf thе bооkѕ thаt hе hаѕ wrіttеn ѕо fаr.