9. TB Joshua: $10 Million
Joshua is a unique influence in his native country of Nigeria. He’s the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and considered a Prophet in the eyes of his congregation. He grew up in Ondo State, Nigeria from a poverty-stricken family. He dropped out of secondary school in and did everything from working in a poultry farm to washing people’s legs in the muddy streets of Lagos to keep his family afloat.
During a forty day fast he received a divine calling to start a ministry with eight members. The church became extremely popular and Joshua now has an impressive 1.5 million fan following on Facebook. However popular he is with his congregation, other pastors aren’t so quick to support him.
Joshua has been publicly condemned by several prominent pastors within Nigeria, with his most vocal critic being Pastor Kris Okotie. He’s been described as a ‘son of the devil.’ Joshua was blacklisted by the government of Cameroon in 2010, which agreed with Pastor Kris’s accusations. Why the hate? Pastor Joshua preaches a “healing faith” and encourages his followers that praying alone will heal their ailments. In 2011, at least three people in London with HIV died after they stopped taking their life saving drugs on the advice of the pastor.
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