Hollywood is known to be a valueless place consumed by wealth, where the divine light of God does not bloom. But, contrary to popular belief, some celebrities did not let their career affect their spirituality and faith. The religious side of celebrities is not always showcased publicly. Some keep their faith private while others are passionate about expressing their love for God. Moreover, some of these celebs were even victims of verbal attacks from the media for being devoted to their religion. Let's take a look at Hollywood's biggest celebrities who have spoken out about their religion.
Mayim Bialik
Known best for her role in the iconic show “The Big Bang Theory”, actress Mayim Bialik is quite outspoken about Judaism on her website Grok Nation. However, the actress has stated that Hollywood offers everything but a welcoming and safe environment for people of faith.
The following is what came from the actress regarding her faith: “I think in general it’s never going to be trendy to be observant or religious in Hollywood circles, there are people I know of faith and we tend to congregate together. I study Jewish texts weekly. That’s something really positive to me when you’re a person of faith, it stays with you all the time.”
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington is a producer, actor, and director. Mostly known for his acting, Denzel was raised by his father who was also a preacher of the Christian faith. Therefore, the actor had a religious upbringing right from the start of his life.
To this date, Denzel attends the same church he used to as a child every Sunday and reads the Holy Bible every day. “Put God first in everything you do,” Washington had to say about his faith.
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan is still James Bond to most of us. The Irish actor starred in the Bond series from 1995-2002. Brosnan has revealed that he grew up in a Catholic church. According to Brosnan, faith in God was the only light he saw during the dark times of his life, especially when he lost his wife and daughter to ovarian cancer.
Prayer has been a part of Brosnan’s life since the days of his childhood. He has spoken openly about how he turns towards praying to God whenever life shows him a rough time. Here are his comments on the subject: “It always helps to have a bit of prayer in your back pocket. At the end of the day, you have to have something and for me, that is God, Jesus, my Catholic upbringing, and my faith.”
Sean Astin
The favorite hobbit of millions of “The Lord of the Rings” fans grew up in an environment with people of several religions around him. With a Catholic mother, a Jewish birth-father, an ex-atheist Buddhist stepfather, a Hindu brother, you can tell that Sean’s mind opened up to the thought of being a person of faith quite early.
After years of investigation, Sean chose Christianity as his religion and got himself, his wife, and his daughters all baptized in the church. To this date, Sean participates in projects that bring the best out of his acting potential as well as his religious self.
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo is one of those brave people who do not hold back when it comes to faith. Sorbo is famous for starring in movies based on religious beliefs such as “God’s not Dead”. Furthermore, the actor has publicly expressed his views regarding his spiritual love for Jesus Christ.
Kevin Sorbo has the opinion that a large fraction of the problems that the United States is facing today is because the concept of God has become a second priority for most. Sorbo views secularism as one of the leading factors that are driving Americans away from their creator and he’s willing to bring a change from the screen.
Viola Davis
Viola is definitely a woman of Christian faith. prayed to God for a husband that checked off all of her boxes. Just three weeks later, her prayer was answered. Julius Tennon invited Davis to church and the couple eventually said "I do" forever.
Both Viola Julius worked side-by-side to co-produce Emmanuel, a documentary that recounts a 2015 mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Tom Hanks
Our all-time favorite actor was raised Catholic and Mormon, and described himself as a "Bible-toting Evangelical" during his teenage years.
He later converted to the Greek Orthodox Church before marrying Rita Wilson, and together they frequently attend church.
Kevin James
We all loved him for his humorous role in “Paul Blart: The Mall Cop”, but we also love Kevin James for sticking to Christianity even after all these years in Hollywood. Similar to our previously mentioned stars, Kevin James was also raised in the Catholic church. James’s father emphasized the importance of having a deep connection with God in his household.
Kevin James has also stated that he learns more and more about his faith as days pass by. The actor is keen on becoming the man his Lord wants him to be. Even when it came to hardships, James did not back away from the remembrance of God. “I’ve been very guilty of not showing my faith and just praying when I needed it when something bad happened in my life and not being thankful when things turned good. All good is from God, and so I want to honor him.”
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth was all set to release her Christian album back in 2005 when her manager said that she’d face backlash for it. Kristin thought otherwise and went ahead with the album’s release. The actress and singer we know best for her shows such as “The West Wing” and “BoJack Horseman”, did not hesitate to display her spiritual side in Hollywood.
This is what Kristin, who spent her childhood singing at the Baptist church, had to say about her religious beliefs: “I’m an actress and a singer and I’m also a Christian. I just want to be like Jesus, forgiving and loving and nonjudgmental, accepting of everyone even if they don’t agree.”
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was born in the Holy Land of Jerusalem but raised in New York City. Portman went to a Jewish school in her youth and her husband opted for Judaism as his religion before marrying Portman.
To this date, Portman is known to be a practicing Jew. Dual citizenship comprising of both American and Israeli roots, the actress was also awarded the Genesis Prize (awarded to people who are an inspiration for the generation of Jews to come).
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
Nicole revealed in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that she and her husband Keith Urban regularly attend church with their children. "That's how we are raising our family," Kidman confessed.
She added, "I had a very Catholic grandmother, and I was raised praying, so that had massive impact. I wouldn't say it's absolutism, there's constant questioning."
Candace Cameron Bure
The Full House star is known for being vocal about her faith. In 2020, she was named the Chief Spiritual Officer of Woman's Day publication. "My Christian faith is so meaningful to me, and it's the foundation of who I am," she revealed at the time.
She added, "It always goes before me, and I've never been shy to talk about my faith. So to be known for that and to be respected for that is great."
Orlando Bloom
Our one and only Orlando Bloom who played Legolas in “The Lord of The Rings” and Will Turner in “The Pirates of the Caribbean”, was much close to being a Christian until 2004. Bloom turned his ways towards the religion of Buddhism in 2004.
Since then, Bloom has been a participating member of the famous Buddhist organization known as Soka Gakkai International. This organization was built on the teachings of an old Japanese Buddhist preacher who lived almost a millennia ago.
Mindy Kaling
Perhaps being one of the funniest actresses out there is not the only job out there that Mindy Kaling has nailed. Kaling has often taken towards social media and discussed her belief in Hinduism in sardonic tones.
She even once tweeted that Hindus prefer not to use the phrase YOLO as it opposes their core belief of reincarnation, instead they use YOL. If you want more comedy from the Hindu actress and writer, you can check out the Diwali episode of “The Office” since she wrote that episode.
Mark Wahlberg
We’ve all heard of successful people who never stop grinding even when they’re on top of the mountain. We believe Mark Wahlberg is one of those people, considering his daily routine that starts at 2:30 AM!
The devoted catholic gets up this early to pray and test his body’s limits. Some celebs do have to stay in shape, but the prayer part has us in awe too. What more reasons are there to love Mark Wahlberg, you ask? Well, not to mention the fact that Wahlberg is so down-to-earth that he takes out the time from his busy life to help youngsters in solving their daily life problems.
Dave Chappelle
The humorous comedian we all know as Dave Chappelle converted to Islam over two decades ago. However, Chappelle being a part of the 1.8 billion Muslim community, chooses to not mention his beliefs in front of the public much. This is due to the man’s humbleness towards his religion.
“I don’t normally talk about my religion publicly because I don’t want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing, and I believe it is a beautiful religion if you learn it the right way. It’s a lifelong effort. Your religion is your standard.”
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Renown basketball veteran Kareem Abdul Jabbar embraced the breeze of Islam a day after winning the NBA title. Formerly known as Lew Alcindor, he changed his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Although back then his decision was seemed to be backward by the public, today Kareem Abdul Jabbar is known to be a legendary basketball player, activist, and writer.
“I emerged from this pilgrimage with my beliefs clarified and my faith renewed. From that year to this, I have never wavered or regretted my decision to convert to Islam.”
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson is a firm believer in the Baha’i religion. Wilson regularly interviews his fellow members of the Baha’i faith and has also published a read on a fasting ritual in the Baha’i religion. Even in the pandemic, his spirits were not dampened as he reached out to many other members of his faith and established a bond with them.
“The Office” actor believes that similar to other forms of art, acting is heavily affiliated with one’s spiritual transcendence. Here are the thoughts he gave to the Huffington Post:
“I don’t see an artistic journey and a spiritual journey as being that different.”
David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo is very keen on balancing his faith with his line of work. “My faith and my being a father very much guides me in terms of what I do because I want to practice what I preach both as a Christian and as a father,” he explained.
Moreover, once the actor has opted for a role, he proceeds to strengthen his relationship with God. “I always knew that in order to play Dr. King, I had to have God flow through me because when you see Dr. King giving those speeches, you see that he is moving in his anointing.”
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner’s perception of religion was changed after her role in “Miracles from Heaven”. The movie’s plot revolves around a young girl who admits that she had a trip to paradise and met Jesus Christ. After working in this movie, the actress regularly started attending Sunday church and got her children baptized in her hometown church.
“There was something about doing this film and talking to my kids about it and realizing that they were looking for the structure of church every Sunday,” said Jennifer.
Ginnifer Goodwin
Actress Ginnifer Goodwin was raised by a Jewish mother and a Christian father. Young Ginnifer used to accompany her mother to the synagogue on Saturdays while her father took her to church on Sundays. She went on to choose Judaism as her religion.
Josh Dallas married Ginnifer Goodwin back in 2014. The couple was all set for a Jewish wedding. However, due to a robbery, the wedding contract was almost stolen. Fortunately, the Ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) made it to the wedding at the last moment. What a miracle!
Julia Roberts
It all changed for Julia Roberts when she was staying in India to film her role in “Eat, Pray, Love”. The actress was seen with a Hindu preacher known as Swami Shri Dharam. Now Julia was known to be somewhat of a Christian due to her upbringing. Therefore, her presence with the Hindu Guru raised question marks.
Upon questioning, Julia publicly announced her belief in Hinduism. The actress has stated that she is a practicing Hindu and finds inner peace and tranquility in Hinduism.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is very open-minded about discussing his faith on TV. He supports the idea of his audience being expressive about their belief in God. Perry being a millionaire and a devout Christian at the same time has often displayed his love and respect for Jesus Christ.
“I’ve seen lots of people who don’t go to church, who have no concept of God, who have never really thought about it, begin to change their lives because of something that was said in the film or something the character invited them to see.”
Tina Turner
Back in the ‘70s, Tina Turner’s attention was caught by the religion of Buddhism. This was a tough time for her since she was dealing with an abusive husband. Her trust in Buddhism was boosted since she found a way towards mental peace. She also told the press that singing the Lotus Sutra is a part of her branch of Buddhism.
“In the Soka Gakkai tradition we are taught how to sing it, it is a sound and a rhythm and it touches a place inside you. That place we try to reach is the subconscious mind. I believe that it is the highest place and, if you communicate with it, that is when you receive information on what to do.”
Kim Kardashian
Who doesn’t know Kim Kardashian? Here’s a bigger and better question: Who knows about her religious background? Kim Kardashian studied in a Catholic school when she was a child. She wasn’t even allowed to wear makeup to school!
Here’s what the iconic model had to say about her religious family in an interview with Vogue: “We don’t share it much, but we’re really religious, we are very Christian and our work ethic and our discipline comes from so many years at Catholic school.”
Selena Gomez
One of our favorite female actresses and singer Selena Gomez had a Catholic upbringing as a child. Selena is a well-practicing Christian to this date and she was also spotted with her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber attending religious gatherings.
This is what the 26-year-old said to herself in a letter from the Hillsong Conference: "You are enough because you are a child of God who has been pursued from the very beginning.”
Elisabeth Moss
Scientology is known to be a mysterious religion that gives off a contentious-like vibe. Although most stars that follow this belief joined after making it big on the screens, actress Elisabeth Moss joined it from way before.
She refrains from publicly speaking about her beliefs since it is a ruling from Scientology itself that does not approve public expression concerning the belief system. Elizabeth Moss is still connected with the Church to this date as she spent a great deal of her childhood in it.
Marilyn Monroe
Although Marilyn Monroe was raised as an evangelical Christian, the actress later went on to accept Judaism as her religion after marrying Arthur Miller. Her husband played a great role in her journey from Christianity to Judaism.
Marilyn expressed her views regarding Judaism saying that she found the religion to be rational. Moreover, Judaism’s central idea revolves heavily around the family system, which impressed Monroe and led her into converting. She also found the laws and principles to be more fitting in her life.
Selena Quintanilla
The late Latina star was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness household. The parents of Selena, Marcella and Abraham, emphasized teaching their beliefs to their daughter Selena. However, after she died in 1995, the parents of the late Selena affirmed that they do not partake in the death anniversary nor birthday celebration of their daughter.
"As Jehovah's Witnesses, we don't celebrate deaths or birthdays, and we don't want people to think we're behind all the festivities," said Abraham on Selena’s 20th death anniversary
Mos Def
Yaslin Bey, who is known as Mos Def as his rapper stage name, was introduced to the religion of Islam by his Muslim Sunni father when he was in his early teens. After turning 19, Yaslin took his shahada (a testimony that confirms the conversion to Islam).
"You're not gonna get through life without being worshipful or devoted to something, you're either devoted to your job, or to your desires. So, the best way to spend your life is to try to be devoted to prayer, to Allah," said Mos Def.
Hailey Baldwin
Similar to Selena Gomez, Hailey Baldwin is an active member of the Hillsong Church. Hailey is also one of those models who do not conceal their beliefs on stage, rather she openly expresses them. The model has stated she enjoys the company of people who have the same Christian beliefs as her.
“Now in my 20s, I try to surround myself with people who believe the same thing I do, who follow and are open to it because it’s too hard to constantly get people to understand what I do if they just aren’t interested in it.”
Russell Brand
Famous actor and comedian Russell Bran was born in Britain. Now known to be a practicing Hindu, Russel has discussed his love for Hindu spirituality quite often. He also attends the Hare Krishna services for spiritual enlightenment.
"I choose to believe in God because I think what that is, is the recognition that there is divine beauty in all of us, and if we prioritize that over our own selfish material needs, we will naturally create a culture more in harmony with our planet and we'll have a chance."
Pink
Raised by a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, Alecia Beth Moore has admitted her religion to be Judaism publicly. The iconic pop star spent her childhood in Pennsylvania where she learned to sing from her father.
After the events of Charlottesville back in 2017, Pink took to social media and made a post affirming her Jewish identification. "It's incredible to watch neo-Nazis march in 2017, while I, a Jewish woman, headline a show in Berlin where these tunnels were built by him, built curvy so he couldn't be shot in the back."
Kris Jenner
The Kardashian/Jenner family does not openly speak much about their religious views. However, it is a well-known fact that the older women of the Kardashian household teach the children Christian beliefs from a very young age.
Furthermore, it has been reported that Bible verses are recited at the start of the day at the Kardashians. The members recite the meaning of the verses to start off the day with a spiritual and positive boost. There’s no doubt that the Kardashian family’s way of life is deeply influenced by Catholic teachings.
Richard Gere
Americans probably view Richard Gere as the second-most popular Buddhist, with the first place belonging to Dalai Lama. Ever since his 20s, Richard Gere has been a practicing Buddhist and studying his religion. Gere holds a special place for Dalai Lama in his heart and believes him to be his central teaching figure.
“It completely changed my life the first time I was in the presence of His Holiness, It wasn’t like I felt, ‘Oh, I’m going to give away all my possessions and go to the monastery now,’ but it quite naturally felt that this was what I was supposed to do, work with these teachers, work within this lineage, learn whatever I could, bring myself to it.”
Patricia Heaton
Patricia Heaton won two Emmy awards after starring in “Everybody Loves Raymond”. However, her career was not always as successful as it seems today. At the commencing years of her career, the actress faced issues in making decisions regarding her career.
Putting her faith in God and relying on him is Patricia’s way of doing things. “You have to be really good at what you do, you have to show up and do your best, but the rest is up to God,” said Patricia.
Jon Heder
We all remember John Heder from the hilarious film “Napoleon Dynamite”. Ever since his childhood days, Jon has been an active member of the Mormon Church. He believes his acting gig choices are directly influenced by his beliefs.
“Being a son, a husband, a father, a brother, a Church member, a Scoutmaster, etc. Everything I am influences my choices. Every job I take, I think about how it will affect my abilities to fulfill the duties required by each of these roles in my life,” explained Jon.
Kirk Cameron
Despite being an atheist in his early years of teenage life, the actor we all saw the star in “Growing Pains” has now become an evangelical Christian. How did this happen? Well, it was because of a girl, of course!
When Cameron was about 17, he fell for a girl who led him into attending Church. Although Cameron had no interest in learning about God, his attraction for the girl eventually led him into believing in God. Cameron’s life has never been the same since then.
Jim Gaffigan
The hilarious comedian Jim Gaffigan manages to slide his thoughts about his Catholic faith into his comedy acts. This has occurred so often that the comedian was given an opportunity to perform for Pope Francis.
“If you looked at my material that touches on my Catholicism, it’s not very well-informed. It’s not hypercritical. Some of the jokes are like, ‘I haven’t read the Bible, because you don’t have to when you’re Catholic.’ Its roots are in the cultural Catholicism of America.”
Carrie Underwood
Known best for her contributions in the country music genre, Carrie Underwood found tranquility in Christianity after suffering several miscarriages. One time when she was expecting her child and it looked to be a coming miscarriage, she prayed to God in a way she had never prayed before.
“And for the first time, I feel like I actually I told God how I felt. And I feel, like, we’re supposed to do that.” Her dark thoughts turned out to be misconceptions and she had her second child back in 2019.
Tom Cruise
Another celeb gone for Scientology is none other than the “Mission Impossible” star Tom Cruise. After getting introduced to Scientology by his wife around three decades ago, Tom Cruise managed to become one of the strongest voices of Scientology.
Although several celebs are believers in Scientology, it is impossible to not think of Tom Cruise when Scientology comes up. To this date, Tom Cruise is closely associated with the Church of Scientology and considered to be a devout Scientologist.
Andrew Keegan
This one is a special case! Andrew Keegan came up with his own set of beliefs and titled them “Full Circle”. Being the head of a spiritual group, Keegan’s focus was to bring together people that would help each other ascend in terms of spirituality.
"We’re a non-profit, non-denominational spiritual community center where people of all beliefs and backgrounds come together to meditate, practice yoga, and engage artistically," the actor said. "We have a weekly yoga and meditation program and also host a variety of high vibe, spiritually-centered events," Keegan explained.
Laura Prepon
Laura’s life has changed ever since she became a part of Scientology. According to the actress herself, she has now found new and better ways of dealing with life. The Church of Scientology has changed her perspective from top to bottom.
Her statement is as follows: "Honestly, I've become more me. In my life, things have become much easier, I'm not affected like I used to be. Things don’t bother me that had before. I don’t react like I did before."
Ice Cube
O’Shea Jackson, best known by his stage name Ice Cube, converted to Islam back in the ‘90s. He has described himself as just a “natural Muslim”. The rapper has also discussed how he’s not keen on practicing the traditional ways of Islam such as attending the mosque for the daily five prayers.
"I mean, what I call myself is a natural Muslim, 'cause it's just me and God. You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it's just not in me to do. So, I don't do it," said the American rapper.
Erika Christensen
Scientology was the religion adopted by Erika Christensen and her parents too when they were in their 20s back in the day. Her upbringing was closely affiliated with the practices and principles of Scientology. To this day, Christensen is a well-known and active member of the Church of Scientology.
Erika believes Scientology has made her a better version of the person she once was. "If I had to sum it up, the goal of Scientology is giving the person back to themselves.”
-Erika Christensen in an interview in 2013.
Katy Perry
A fact that almost everyone is aware of is that Katy Perry was raised in a conservative family. However, most people are unaware that Katy Perry performed for a Christian record using her actual name, Katy Hudson.
Later on, in an interview with Marie Claire, she talked about how her perspective of the traditional understanding of the Christian faith has completely changed. "I don't believe in a heaven or a hell or an old man sitting on a throne. I believe in a higher power bigger than me because that keeps me accountable."
These Religious Leaders Have Followers and a Fortune
When you think of a religious or a spiritual leader, your mind might wander about as to who that may be or what that even means. A monk? a TV preacher? Gandhi? Whoever it may be, it is definitely not the ones you will first think about when evoking the notion of religious leaders.
Indeed, spiritual leaders can be very different in the way they live, how much money they earn, and their vision of the world. Take a look at these insanely rich religious leaders below — and may your mind forever be changed!
Mark Driscoll - Net Worth: $2.5 million
While non-practicing Catholic Mark Driscoll attended college, a young woman named Grace gifted him with a “nice bible,” thanks to which he paved his path back to Catholicism.
His newfound appreciation for Catholicism led Driscoll to found the Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA as well as The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, AZ. In addition, Driscoll has made appearances in a few American shows including, Fox & Friends, Loveline with Dr. Drew, and ABC’s Nightline.
Paula White-Cain - Net Worth: $8 million
Finally... A woman coming in at the 18th place. Paula White-Cain, multi-millionaire and current pastor of non-denominational megachurch New Destiny Christian Center in Orlando, FL., didn’t always have it easy while she was growing up. She overcame the death of her father, as well as multiple kinds of abuse to get to where she is today.
Her father’s passing when she was a young girl sent White-Cain into a tailspin, however she thanks the Bible for helping her turn her life around.
Eddie Long - Net Worth: $5 million
Late Bishop Eddie L. Long is known as the flamboyant pastor of megachurch New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, AL. However, the numerous disturbing allegations amongst many of his congregants didn’t stop him from living a lavish lifestyle.
He stayed true to the saying, “practice what you preach,” as he was best known for “prosperity gospel,” which more or less states that the faithful will be rewarded with wealth. Long notably traveled via private jet, drove a Bentley, and lived in a $1.4 million house.
John Hagee - Net Worth: $5 million
It’s a family affair at the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX. John Hagee is the founder and current senior pastor at the church along with help from his son, Matt.
Both John and Matt’s wives, Diana and Kendal respectively, lead the women’s ministries at the church. Outside of the church, John founded and currently sits as a chairman for Christians United for Israel. Those critical of Hagee’s views say he “traffics in conspiracy-minded eschatology.”
Louis Farrakhan - Net Worth: $3 million
From the moment Louis Farrakhan heard Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Elijah Muhammad speak in 1955, he knew the route he wanted to take. However, this wasn’t always his clear career path, as he started in the music industry performing various cabaret numbers and was a part of different symphony groups in Boston, MA.
Following his stint in music, Farrakhan followed in Muhammed’s footsteps by becoming the leader of the NOI in 1977, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Pope Benedict XVI - Net Worth: $2.5 million
While the treasures of the Catholic church do not belong to any one man, this particular church leader didn’t come into office empty-handed. The late Pope Benedict XVI, former leader of more than a billion Catholics, had, according to several sources, an estimated net worth of $2.5 million.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005 and stayed in office until 2013, when in he made the unorthodox decision to resign instead of keeping the positing for life like most of his predecessors. After his resignation, he continues to receive a $3,300 monthly pension, and in 2020 he became the oldest Pope in history at the age of 93. He passed away on December 31st, 2022.
Charles Stanely - Net Worth: $1.5 million
Originally from Dry Fork, Virginia, religious leader and New York Times Best-Selling author, Charles Stanely, is best known for founding In Touch Ministries in 1977, an American Evangelical Ministry. Stanley settled on the name “In Touch” after a phrase he came across in his copy of The Living Bible.
Charles Stanely was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In addition, he’s authored more than 60 books.
R.C Sproul - Net Worth: $2 million
R.C. Sproul is the Founder of Ligonier Ministries, as well as an established theological author. Sproul’s church gained popularity through his use of online and social resources to obtain new followers. His wave of internet success led him to begin “The Reformation Network,” an online radio station.
He is also one of the pastors who founded the Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Florida, as well as the first president of the Reformation Bible College. Unlike some names on this list, Sproul is revered by his clergy and is also very well-respected outside of the church.
Al Sharpton - Net Worth: $500,000
Notoriously known for his outspoken personality, Reverend Al Sharpton has become arguably the United States’ most influential civil rights leader. In 1991, Sharpton founded New-York based non-profit organization, National Action Network (NAN). Today, NAN has more than 45 chapters across the U.S.
Sharpton delivered his first sermon at the young age of four at Brooklyn’s Washington Temple Church of God & Christ. Five years later, he received his license to be a Pentecostal Minister at the same Brooklyn church where he gave his original sermon.
Clifton Davis - Net Worth: $3 million
Clifton Davis wrote the Jackson 5’s 1971 hit “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and was involved with numerous broadway musicals. He also hosted the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Show, all prior to him becoming the minister of an interdenominational ministry.
Davis’ musical background likely helped launch his career as a minister of a Baptist Church. TV host, minister, and songwriter... to say that Davis is a jack of all trades would be an understatement!
Sri Chinmoy - Net Worth: $2 million
Sri Chinmoy, a Bangladeshi-born spiritual guru may have died in 2017, however, he still maintains a strong amount of followers among his students. Hit up San Diego based Jyot-Bihanga for a tasty vegan meal and a dose of spirituality, as the restaurant is run by one of Chinmoy’s disciples.
Beyond Chinmoy’s religious teachings, his interests included both marathon running and weightlifting. His love for marathons led to the creation of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in 1977. Although he expressed a passion for weightlifting, Professor of Kinesiology, Todd Terry, proclaimed Chinmoy often exaggerated about how much weight he was able to lift.
Billy Graham - Net Worth: $25 million
According to Billy Graham’s website, he’s supposedly preached to “more live audiences than anyone else in history.” He better take this up with #20 on this list, Reinhard Bonnke, as Bonnke claims a similar statistic in the Evangelical world.
Graham grew up on a dairy farm and came from humble beginnings (his humbleness has clearly gone out the door - according to the above statement). His religious path began at the young age of 15 when he made a commitment to serve the Lord through Mordecai Ham’s ministry.
Kenneth Copeland - Net Worth: $300 million
Kenneth Copeland is the third televangelist to land on this list and by far the most successful, with a whopping net worth of $300 million. He can thank his viewers for that, as the goal of a televangelist is to garner donations through TV.
According to his website, Kenneth and his wife Gloria have been preaching for nearly 52 years, with most of those years dedicated to their TV show, "Believer’s Voice of Victory". However, they also spread the good word through radio shows, podcasts, their magazine, and Believers’ Conventions.
Walter Mercado - Net Worth: $5 million
Marked as more of a spiritual leader, Puerto-Rico native Walter Mercado’s horoscope rundowns had every household glued to your television. According to Remezcla, an online source for the Latinx community, Walter Mercado has had an interesting, yet positive impact on them.
Mercado embraced his gender non-conforming identity and often wore flashy outfits that fitted his eccentric personality, claiming, “Latinidad tends to follow gender norms (i.e. why young girls are expected to learn to cook, while their brothers are not).”
Rick Warren - Net Worth: $25 million
Pastor Rick Warren played an integral role in founding both California-based Saddleback Church and online website Pastors.com. According to Warren’s bio, Saddleback garners 30,000 weekly attendees across 19 locations; stateside and international.
Warren’s other endeavor, Pastors.com, is a training website for pastors and church leaders. Warren offers a free newsletter to his subscribers called the Ministry Toolbox, which is a part of this training effort. Last but not least, he is a best-selling author of numerous Christian books, including "The Purpose Driven Church".
N.T. Wright - Net Worth: $2.5 million
Former Bishop of Durham, Nicholas Thomas Wright is arguably the most notable bible scholar in the United Kingdom. Now an Anglican minister and Theologian, Wright has an estimated net worth of $2.5 million stemming from a career that began more than 40 years ago.
Wright has written more than 70 books on theology, including "Paul and the Faithfulness of God", which is his most popular opus. N.T. Wright is a right-winger with traditional values, most notably opposing same-sex marriage and the LGBTQ community.
T.D Jakes - Net Worth: $18 million
Bishop T.D. Jakes leads the Dallas-based Potter’s House Church, which he founded in 1996. The church underwent a $45 million renovation that was achieved in 2000. In 2010, Jakes expanded it to four campuses, including Dallas, Fort Worth, North Dallas, and Denver, CO.
In addition to being a filmmaker, Jakes, as well as his daughter, are both accomplished authors; He often encourages his 30,000 members to purchase both of their books.
Jack Van Impe - Net Worth: $2.5 million
Have you ever woken up at 4 a.m. with the TV blaring bible verses in your ear? Well, if you have, you’re probably familiar with “The Walking Bible,” also known as Jack Van Impe. He is best known for his bible preaching show, “Jack Van Impe Ministries Show.”
Van Impe strongly believes in the rapture and that the end of the world will be brought upon by a dark political leader and a false prophecy. Nevertheless, Van Impe has been quite successful in his endeavors. His International Foundation rakes in around $12 million per year with him bringing in nearly $150,000 for his work.
Juanita Bynum - Net Worth: $10 million
In addition to being an author, “Prophetess” Juanita Bynum is a preacher, and a gospel singer; not many on this list can claim to have this number of strings to their bow. Bynum released an album named "Piece of My Passion" in 2007, and The New York Times gave her the title of "the most prominent black female television evangelist in the country".
Most recently, Bynum was spotted in the news for canceling a preaching assignment because the pastor who was holding the conference entered her hotel room without being invited beforehand.
George Foreman - Net Worth: $300 million
Most people probably know George Foreman as “that guy who sells grills.” Well, that isn’t untrue. However, he’s had a pretty successful career outside of that. Foreman had a hard upbringing before becoming a millionaire; he was a bully and didn't like to go to school (but who did?).
Foreman decided to channel his attitude into something a bit more... appropriate one might say. He became a world-champion boxer, winning the gold medal in 1968. Foreman had a sort of religious experience in his dressing room which led him to become a born-again Christian. He eventually became ordained in 1978.
Tony Campolo - Net Worth: $4 million
Baptist minister, Tony Campolo hit his career peak when he became President Bill Clinton’s spiritual advisor during his presidency from 1993 to 2001. He has a degree in both sociology and theology, a Ph.D. from Temple University and is the founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education.
In opposition to others on this list, Campolo holds more liberal views on issues such as same-sex marriage. We can all thank his wife for that :)
Reinhard Bonnke - Net Worth: $4 million
Reinhard Bonnke, the founder of Christ for all Nations, claims to have preached to more people than any other Evangelical pastor in the world. With such claims, controversy is bound to follow. In 1991, rumors spread that Bonnke was to travel and attempt to combat an Islamic region of Nigeria with his sermons. After many, warranted riots, Bonnke was not allowed to return to Nigeria until the early 2000s.
Aside from his controversial and outlandish claims, Bonnke was recently featured in HBO’s, “A Question of Miracles,” which investigates the connection between brain chemistry and faith healing.
Joseph Prince - Net Worth: $5 million
Joseph Prince, of Joseph Prince Ministries, teaches the good word through his best-selling books and broadcast gospel, which is said to reach millions across the country.
Prince (no, not the artist formerly known as Prince) is a founding member of the New Creation Church and has worked hard to gain respect and rank through the years. He started as an “elder” and associate pastor, eventually becoming a senior pastor in 1990. According to his bio, 1990 is when the church started to grow in popularity.
Noel Jones - Net Worth: $5 million
Born in a Spanish town in Jamaica with six brothers and sisters, current Pentecostal bishop Noel Jones eventually relocated to Syracuse, NY in 1965, with a few of his family members.
At the age of 19, Jones left Syracuse and ventured off to study and eventually earn a degree in theology from Aenon Bible College. He earned his first pastorate at Bethel Temple of Longview in Texas when he was only 26 years old.
Kirk Cameron - Net Worth: $20 million
Kirk Cameron wasn’t raised as a churchgoer and was first identified as an American actor. He acted in several movies and series, including Saving Christmas, Mercy Rule, and Fireproof.
However, while sitting in his sports car, pondering the first Gospel message he ever heard, he decided to change his career path. Cameron is better known for his work as an actor on "Growing Pains" and was even nominated for two Golden Globes for that role.
Joyce Meyer - Net Worth: $8 million
Who knew someone could receive so many honorary degrees? However, Joyce Meyer managed to receive three: an honorary Ph.D. from Life Christian University, a doctorate degree from Oral Roberts University, and a final honorary degree from Grand Canyon University.
Meyer’s faith stems from a trauma-filled life. She experienced abuse at a young age from her father and faced many obstacles with a dismissive mother. In addition, Meyer’s first marriage ended disastrously. Similar to #30 on this list, Al Sharpton, her career in religious teaching has been more of a gradual one.
Ernest Angley - Net Worth: $15 million
Internationally known televangelist Ernest Angley is the pastor and founder of the Grace Cathedral; with locations in both Cuyahoga Falls and Akron, OH. However, like many individuals that choose the religious path, controversy followed him throughout his career.
An unknown source provided a recorded conversation of Angley admitting to his assistant minister that he had had numerous encounters with an employee at the Grace Cathedral. In addition, it was said that Angley had an unfortunate history of abusing staff.
Benny Hinn - Net Worth: $60 million
Televangelist Benny Hinn was born in Israel and moved to Canada in 1968. According to his bio, he decided to commit his life’s work to religion in 1972, following a vision he had of people falling into an inferno (sounds lovely!),
He is most famous for his regular "Miracle Crusades". Similar to other televangelists on this list, Hinn is the author of various books, TV programs, and also a website full of resources. Interested in worship? He’s got an app for that!
Joel Osteen - Net Worth: $100 million
Arguably the most famous on this list, Joel Osteen is the current pastor at Lakewood Church. Many have questioned his $100 million salary, asking if a pastor should be making this much money. However, he did give up his annual $200k salary from Lakewood church, relying instead on the royalties of his books.
Osteen came under attack when he did not initially open Lakewood Church to aid hurricane victims in Houston, TX. However, it seems as though Osteen is doing just fine; he currently resides in a mansion that's worth well over $10 million.
Supreme Master Ching Hai - Net Worth: Uncertain (must be nice)
Ching Hai is the owner of the international vegan restaurant chain Loving Hut. But, however tasty her food may be, it doesn’t change the fact that she is a cult leader. Ching Hai created the Quan Yin Method - a “pseudo-religious philosophy.”
According to cult expert Margaret Singer, the Quan Yin Method “appears to be one of the most well-organized and fastest-growing cults in the United States and the world.”
Up next, discover the salaries of the most famous TV anchors...
