Televangelist Jim Bakker dies at age 86, ending a long and controversial life in American religious broadcasting. His wife, Lori Bakker, announced on social media that he passed away on the evening of Monday, October 5, 2026. UPI reported that she wrote that he “went home to be with the Lord.” No cause of death was given.
Bakker was best known for The PTL Club, the daily Christian television program he hosted with his first wife, Tammy Faye, during the 1970s and 1980s. His career rose to national fame, collapsed in scandal, and later returned in a smaller form.
Jim Bakker dies at 86, with his death announced for October 5, 2026. He built the PTL ministry and the Heritage USA theme park, resigned in 1987 amid scandal, and was convicted of fraud and conspiracy in 1989. After prison he returned to television with The Jim Bakker Show. His family has asked for prayers and privacy.
Jim Bakker Dies at 86: What Is Known So Far
News that Jim Bakker dies at 86 first spread through his ministry’s official social media accounts. Deadline reported that Lori Bakker described his life as 66 years given to preaching the Gospel. She also said he cared deeply about people and about the ministry’s supporters, even in his final days.
Outlets differ slightly on which platform carried the first post. Some reports named Instagram and others named Facebook, so this article refers only to social media. NewsNation noted that the cause of death was not immediately clear, and the announcement did not say where he died.
| Who | James Orsen “Jim” Bakker, televangelist |
|---|---|
| Date of death | October 5, 2026 |
| Age | 86 (born January 2, 1940, in Muskegon, Michigan) |
| Announced by | His wife, Lori Bakker, on social media |
| Cause of death | Not disclosed |
| Best known for | Founding the PTL ministry and hosting The PTL Club |
From a Michigan Childhood to Christian Television
Bakker grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He later studied at North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, where he met Tammy Faye LaValley. They married in 1961 and left school to preach, using puppet shows and tent revivals to reach audiences.
Their break came in the mid-1960s, when evangelist Pat Robertson brought them to his Christian Broadcasting Network. Bakker became a host on the network’s flagship program, and his emotional on-air appeals for donations helped make him a familiar face. He and Tammy Faye later struck out on their own and, in 1974, launched the PTL ministry. The letters stood for “Praise the Lord,” and later “People That Love.”
How the PTL Ministry Grew
Through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, The PTL Club became one of the best-known programs in evangelical broadcasting. The couple combined music, interviews, prayer, and frequent fundraising. They also taught a message that linked faith with prosperity.
The ministry’s biggest project was Heritage USA, a 2,300-acre theme park in South Carolina. According to the Washington Post’s obituary, the park drew about six million visitors a year at its peak. The Post also reported that Bakker sold “partnerships” in the park for $1,000 each, promising lodging stays to those who bought them.
Resignation, Fraud Conviction and Prison
In March 1987, Bakker resigned from PTL after a scandal became public. UPI said the ministry was then handed to Rev. Jerry Falwell. A federal investigation into the ministry’s finances followed.
Prosecutors charged Bakker with fraud and conspiracy. A central claim was that the ministry sold far more lodging partnerships than the park could honor. He was convicted in 1989. The Washington Post reported that he received a 45-year sentence, which an appeals court later cut to eight years. He was released in 1994, according to the same report.
Tammy Faye Bakker was not charged. She divorced him while he was in prison and later married Roe Messner. She died in 2007.
A Return to Broadcasting After Prison
Bakker returned to television after his release. UPI reported that he and Lori moved to Branson, Missouri, in 2002 and started their television ministry the following year. Charisma Magazine said the program later focused on faith, biblical prophecy, and current events.
His later years were not free of legal trouble. The Washington Post reported that Missouri’s attorney general sued him over claims about a product he promoted during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he was required to repay $156,000 to customers. The Post also said he had a stroke in 2020 and stepped back from broadcasting for a time.
Family and Public Reaction
According to the Washington Post, Bakker is survived by his wife Lori, his son Jay, and his daughter Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman. Lori Bakker said the family was grieving and asked for prayers and privacy. After the headline that Jim Bakker dies at 86, coverage has noted both the scale of his influence on Christian television and the scandals that ended his first ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Jim Bakker die?
He died on the evening of October 5, 2026, at age 86.
Who announced his death?
His wife, Lori Bakker, announced it on social media.
What caused his death?
No cause has been announced, and reports say the location was not given either.
What was Jim Bakker best known for?
He founded the PTL ministry and co-hosted The PTL Club with Tammy Faye Bakker before his 1987 resignation.
What did he do after prison?
He returned to television and hosted The Jim Bakker Show with his wife, Lori.
