Joel Scott Osteen is an American lay preacher, televangelist, businessman, and author. In Houston, Texas, Joel Osteen is best known as the leader of the Lakewood Church. Due to his fortune and widespread promotion of the “prosperity gospel,” he has achieved some notoriety.
His posts were frowned upon for focusing too much on personal growth and improvement. His megachurch in Houston is a 60,000 square foot former sports arena that seats 17,000 people.
Joel has not received a salary from his church since 2005. His book advances, book royalties, calendar sales, speaking fees, and other goods all add to his wealth.
Table of Contents
Joel Osteen Net Worth
As of 2023, Joel Osteen has an estimated net worth of $100 million. Combined annual revenue from Joel Osteen’s book sales, radio program, speaking engagements, and church collection would exceed $70 million.
Joel claims that one should not feel guilty because he has a lot of material wealth when questioned about his high salary. Instead, he believes that one should only thank and praise God for the wealth obtained. He says he receives no payment from the church.
A look at their million dollar estate
Social media critics often point out that Joel, Victoria Osteen and their children live on a 17,000 square foot estate on the outskirts of Houston. According to reports, the Osteens bought the house in 2010 for $10.5 million.
The house is worth between $14 million and $16 million per Zillow. They still own a former house in Houston believed to be worth $3 million.
Joel Osteen Income sources
Joel Osteen earns money through various sources. He makes a living as a celebrity minister by preaching in numerous congregations, including his own Lakewood Church. Millions of people around the world watch His Church’s television program, with its sermons and livelihood tools.
Moreover, he earns a considerable amount of money from the books he has written. It was reported that his books were bestsellers. Moreover, he has played his role in a few TV episodes, which has earned him money.
How much money does Lakewood Church make?
In the year ending March 2017, Lakewood Church made $89 million, according to a Houston Chronicle article. Less than 1% of the budget was allocated to charitable causes and more than 90% of that money was raised from church members.
The Early Life of Joel Osteen
Joel Scott Osteen was born on March 5, 1963 in Houston, Texas. He is one of six children of Dolores Pilgrim and John Osteen. During Joel’s formative years, the household also included Osteen’s half-brother from his father’s first marriage.
After graduating from Humble High School in 1981, Joel enrolled at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to study radio and television communications. Osteen failed to complete a degree.
The career journey of Joel Osteen
Joel’s father, a Southern Baptist minister, bequeathed Lakewood Church and its television ministry. He created the television program Lakewood and oversaw the production of his father’s TV sermons for 17 years. His father John died of a heart attack in January 1999.
Joel, who had received very little formal religious instruction, took over John’s position as pastor and televangelist two weeks after his father’s death. The previous home of the NBA Houston Rockets, the Compaq Center, was purchased by Lakewood in 2003.
The 15-month project cost more than $105 million. In addition to notable visitors including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Texas Governor Rick Perry, 56,000 people attended their grand opening. Osteen was included in Barbara Walters’ list of 10 Most Fascinating People in 2006.
In 2008, more than 100 countries watched the Church’s weekly service on TV. In 2010, President Barack Obama welcomed Joel and his family to the Easter luncheon held at the White House. Since then, Lakewood Church broadcasting has expanded rapidly and is now available in 100 countries.
Joel has expanded the reach of the TV ministry and the Church internationally. The church receives more than 50,000 visitors every week. On average, 7 million people a week and 20 million people a month watch Osteen’s weekly TV sermons.
He has no official degree, but with the help of his father, he has perfected his preaching skills. When it comes to preparing his sermons, Osteen memorizes his remarks and then records himself speaking.
According to Osteen, he strives to teach biblical ideas in an easy-to-understand manner, emphasizing the importance of love and a positive outlook.
Why is Lakewood Church criticized for inaction?
Osteen was harshly criticized in August 2017 for not making Lakewood Church available as an emergency shelter in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. The 606,000-square-foot structure, which used to be a basketball arena, was built.
Osteen countered the announcement by claiming that the church had never been closed, despite initial reports from the organization claiming that the structure was unusable due to severe flooding.
On the evening of August 28, Lakewood announced that they will be open at noon the next day as a refuge for victims and first responders. Next year, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner declared a day to recognize Osteen and Lakewood Church’s support of the city’s rebuilding efforts.
The mayor reported that 2,500 Lakewood Church volunteer volunteers helped more than 1,150 families in Houston, donating $1.1 million for Reconstruction materials.
Check out some of the latest trending articles:
The personal life of Joel Osteen
On April 4, 1987, Osteen married Victoria IIoff, a co-pastor at Lakewood Church. The couple is the parents of two children. Both Osteen’s younger sister and siblings work full-time in the ministry.
Osteen often avoids speaking on divisive and political topics such as same-sex marriage and abortion, but he has said that the church can occasionally focus too much on one issue to exclude others. He has made it clear that he disapproves of homophobia.
In addition, Osteen has expressed his support for Israel. The American Dollar, a band, sued Osteen and Lakewood Church in 2011 for copyright infringement. A judge ruled in favor of Osteen.
We recommend that you visit Leedaily.com regularly for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Joel Osteen so famous?
Joel Osteen is an American televangelist, theologian, speaker and author who was born on March 5, 1963 in Houston, Texas. His best-selling books and straightforward, encouraging sermons have won him millions of fans.
Who owns the Joel Osteen Church?
Lakewood Church founder John Osteen has written 45 books, as well as a large number of educational resources and tapes.
What was the money found in Joel Osteen’s church wall?
A $20,000 incentive is given to the plumber who found the money in the wall of Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. The stolen checks and $600,000 in cash were recovered from a church vault in March 2014, according to police.
