Televangelist's Rise, Fall, and Contested Redemption Arc
Bakker, PTL Club founder and televangelist, died at 86 after a career spanning scandal, imprisonment, and contested redemption.
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Jim Bakker Death
Jim Bakker, co-founder of the PTL evangelical television empire, died at age 86. Bakker gained prominence in the 1980s with his television show reaching 13 million viewers before the organization collapsed following a 1987 sex scandal. He was convicted of fraud and imprisoned, later relaunching his show in 2003 after release on parole in 1994.
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2026-10-06 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 Oct, 07:18 UTC
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What happened
Jim Bakker released on parole after serving eight years in federal prison
Jim Bakker was released on parole in 1994 after serving eight years of his reduced prison sentence for mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy related to PTL's financial practices.
Jim Bakker marries second wife Lori in 1998
Jim Bakker married his second wife, Lori, in 1998. Four years later, the couple adopted five children in 2002. Five years after their marriage, they launched "The Jim Bakker Show" on the PTL Satellite Network in 2003.
Jim Bakker indicted on mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges
In 1988, Jim Bakker was indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy following an investigation into PTL's finances. He was subsequently convicted and initially sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, though the sentence was later reduced to eight years.
Tammy Faye Bakker dies of colon cancer at age 65
Tammy Faye Bakker, the charismatic co-host of "The PTL Club" television show known for her distinctive heavy makeup, died of colon cancer in 2007. Her life and career were later depicted in the 2021 theatrical film "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."
Tammy Faye Bakker divorces Jim Bakker while he remains imprisoned
Tammy Faye Bakker divorced Jim Bakker in 1992, just short of their 31st anniversary, while he was still serving his prison sentence. She later married Roe Messner, a building contractor whose projects included the Heritage USA theme park.
Jim Bakker settles COVID-19 false cure lawsuit for $156,000
In June 2021, Jim Bakker and his Morningside Church Productions Inc. settled a lawsuit accusing him of falsely claiming that the health supplement Silver Solution could cure COVID-19. The settlement required $156,000 in refunds to people who purchased the product or made contributions to obtain it during the early pandemic period. The false cure claims were made during 11 episodes in February and March 2020.
PTL Club reaches peak viewership of 13 million nightly in mid-1980s
At its peak in the mid-1980s, "The PTL Club," the flagship show of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's ministry, drew up to 13 million viewers nightly and generated millions of dollars annually from followers. The show was comparable to a Christian version of "The Tonight Show" and featured guest interviews and Christian entertainers. Jim Bakker delivered sermons while Tammy Faye sang, and episodes were primarily taped at their sprawling complex near Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jim Bakker admits to sexual encounter with church clerk Jessica Hahn
In March 1987, Jim Bakker admitted to a sexual encounter with Jessica Hahn, a church clerk. This revelation triggered the collapse of the PTL empire. Bakker was forced to resign from his own organization, and pastor and broadcaster Jerry Falwell took over operations.
Jim Bakker, televangelist and PTL Club co-founder, dies at age 86
Jim Bakker, who co-founded the evangelical empire centered on "The PTL Club" television show with his first wife Tammy Faye, died on Monday. He was 86 years old. His cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Bakker had suffered a stroke in 2020. At the time of his death, he was living near Branson, Missouri, where he had been filming "The Jim Bakker Show" since 2003.
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