7. Joel Osteen – $40 Million
Another pastor who decided not to take a salary from his church is Joel Osteen, who is the Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. It’s said to be the largest Protestant church in America. In addition to the 52,000 people that visit Lakewood every week, another 7 million tune in weekly to watch Osteen’s sermons faithfully.
The perpetually smiling pastor grew up as a preacher’s kid who studied communications in college but dropped out of Oral Roberts University before graduating. He produced his father’s televised sermons until he died in 1999 and then went on to fill his daddy’s shoes. Osteen’s teachings are broadcast in over 100 countries and are played nonstop on a Sirius XM Satellite Radio station.
He’s made money off of his best-selling motivational book Your Best Life Now- even turning it into a board game. He and his family enjoy living on their $10 million Texas mansion that boasts six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three elevators, and both a guest and a pool house.
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