Jim Bakker, Former Televangelist, Dies at 86
Jim Bakker, an 86-year-old former televangelist known for his "PTL Club" empire which later collapsed amid sex and financial scandals, has died.
Syracuse, NY, October 6, 2026 — Jim Bakker, the 86-year-old former televangelist who rose to prominence with his “PTL Club” television program, has died.
Bakker’s career, once marked by evangelical success and a vast media empire, ultimately collapsed under the weight of multiple scandals. He was widely known for co-founding the Praise the Lord (PTL) television network and its associated theme park, Heritage USA, in the 1980s.
The televangelist’s public life ended abruptly in the late 1980s. The downfall was precipitated by revelations of a sexual encounter with a church secretary, Jessica Hahn, and subsequent allegations of financial impropriety related to his ministry.
In 1989, Bakker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy for soliciting donations under false pretenses, leading to a prison sentence. The collapse of his ministry and subsequent legal troubles led to the dissolution of the PTL organization and the sale of its assets.
Bakker’s life story became a prominent example of the intersection of religious broadcasting, celebrity, and scandal in late 20th-century American culture. The details of his death, including the cause and location, were not immediately provided.
Story summarized from the original created by JIM SALTER and HALLIE GOLDEN, Associated Press on www.localsyr.com, see more information here.
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