Jim Bakker, the televangelist who built a multimillion-dollar Christian broadcasting empire before losing it to sex and financial scandals, has died at the age of 86, according to NBC News, the Associated Press, Reuters and numerous other outlets. His death was announced Monday.
Bakker, along with his first wife Tammy Faye, created 'The PTL Club,' a hugely successful television show that formed the center of an evangelical empire, according to ABC News, NPR and CBS News. The Straits Times reported that the PTL ministry once drew 13 million viewers across 200 TV stations and generated $129 million a year.
Bakker's downfall came after a sex scandal and a conviction for defrauding followers, outlets across the spectrum reported. The Guardian and Reuters noted he spent four and a half years in prison after being convicted in 1989 in a scheme involving holiday packages at his Christian theme park. The Guardian also reported that his fall included divorce from Tammy Faye, his television co-host.
His death was revealed on social media by his second wife, Lori Bakker, according to The Guardian. The Daily Wire quoted her statement: "It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord."
The New York Post reported, in a single-source claim, that Bakker had mourned the death of his sister, Donna Puckett, 91, who died in Hollister, Missouri, on Sept. 29 — about a week before his own death. The cause of her death was described as unclear.
How the coverage differed
Outlets across the political spectrum largely converged on the same core facts: Bakker's rise with Tammy Faye on 'The PTL Club,' his fall amid sex and financial scandals, and his death at 86. Center outlets such as UPI and the Irish Times, along with Reuters and The Straits Times, emphasized the scale of his former ministry, with The Straits Times citing specific viewership and revenue figures not repeated elsewhere.
Left-leaning outlets, including The Guardian and The Washington Post, gave more space to the details of his prison sentence and the comparison of his story to the fictional corrupt preacher Elmer Gantry, a literary reference not found in center or right coverage. The Guardian was also alone among the sources in reporting his divorce from Tammy Faye as part of his fall from grace.
Right-leaning outlets, such as The Daily Wire and the New York Post, included additional personal details not widely reported elsewhere, including the direct quote from Lori Bakker announcing his death and the report of his sister's recent death. The Jerusalem Post and Just the News both used the phrase "felled by scandals" or similar framing, emphasizing his downfall over his earlier success.
What is still unclear
The exact date and location of Bakker's death are not specified in the supplied material. The cause of death is also not mentioned by any outlet.
How each side covered it
Left
- Left-leaning outlets detailed his four-and-a-half-year prison sentence following his 1989 fraud conviction.
- Some outlets, like The Guardian, compared his story to the fictional corrupt preacher Elmer Gantry.
- Coverage noted his divorce from Tammy Faye as part of his fall from grace.
“US televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dead at 86” — The Guardian
Center
- Center outlets, including The Straits Times, cited specific figures: 13 million viewers, 200 stations and $129 million in annual revenue for PTL.
- Reports summarized his career as 'scandal-plagued' and his death at age 86.
“His PTL ministry once drew 13 million viewers on 200 TV stations, raked in US$129 million a year.” — The Straits Times
Right
- Right-leaning outlets quoted his widow Lori Bakker's statement announcing his death.
- The New York Post reported, citing a single source, on the recent death of his sister, Donna Puckett.
- Coverage framed him as a televangelist 'felled by scandal.'
“It is with a broken heart that I share that my beloved husband, Jim Bakker, went home to be with the Lord.” — The Daily Wire
Questions readers ask
Who was Jim Bakker?
Jim Bakker was a televangelist who, with his first wife Tammy Faye, built a multimillion-dollar evangelical empire centered on 'The PTL Club' TV show, according to ABC News, NPR and CBS News.
How did Jim Bakker die?
The supplied sources report Bakker's death at age 86 but do not specify the cause of death.
What scandals was Jim Bakker involved in?
Bakker was convicted in 1989 of defrauding followers in a scheme involving theme park holiday packages and served four and a half years in prison, according to The Guardian and Reuters. His downfall also involved a sex scandal, reported widely across outlets.
Who announced Jim Bakker's death?
His death was revealed on social media by his second wife, Lori Bakker, according to The Guardian and The Daily Wire.
What was 'The PTL Club'?
'The PTL Club' was a television show hosted by Jim Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, that formed the basis of their evangelical broadcasting empire, which The Straits Times reported once drew 13 million viewers on 200 stations and earned $129 million annually.
Sources · 38 outlet reports
- ABC NewsLeft-leaningJim Bakker, who built ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire, has died at 86
- Associated PressLeft-leaningJim Bakker, who lost his ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire in sex and money scandals, dies at 86
- CBS NewsLeft-leaningJim Bakker, televangelist who co-founded "The PTL Club" empire but fell into disgrace, dies at 86
- CNNLeft-leaningTelevangelist Jim Bakker, who built a faith-based empire before resigning amid scandal, dies at 86
- HuffPostLeft-leaningTelevangelist Jim Bakker, Who Fell From Grace Over Sex And Financial Scandals, Dies At 86
- Los Angeles TimesLeft-leaningJim Bakker, televangelist who rose to fame and fell from grace, dies
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningJim Bakker, whose globe-spanning PTL ministry fell to scandal and fraud, dies at 86
- NPRLeft-leaningJim Bakker, who built ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire, has died at 86
- PBS NewsHourLeft-leaningJim Bakker, minister who built a televangelism empire and lost it from sex and money scandals, dies at 86
- PoliticoLeft-leaningJim Bakker, prominent televangelist brought down by scandal, dies at 86
- The GuardianLeft-leaningUS televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dies at 86
- The Hollywood ReporterLeft-leaningJim Bakker, Who Built ‘PTL Club’ Televangelism Empire, Dies at 86
- The New York TimesLeft-leaningJim Bakker, Television Preacher Felled by Sex and Financial Scandals, Dies at 86
- The Washington PostLeft-leaningJim Bakker, disgraced televangelist who went to prison, dies at 86
- USA TodayLeft-leaningJim Bakker, televangelist disgraced by sex and financial scandals, dies
- BBC NewsCenterUS televangelist Jim Bakker, disgraced from sex scandal and fraud, dies at 86
- BBC SportCenterUS televangelist Jim Bakker, disgraced from sex scandal and fraud, dies at 86
- DeadlineCenterJim Bakker Dies: Televangelist & ‘PTL Club’ Founder Was 86
- NewsNationCenterJim Bakker, televangelist who built ‘PTL Club’ empire with Tammy Faye dies at 86
- NewsweekCenterJim Bakker Scandals Explained as Televangelist Dies at 86
- ReutersCenterUS televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dead at 86
- The Irish TimesCenterJim Bakker: US televangelist, disgraced in fraud and sex scandal, dies at 86
- The Straits TimesCenterUS televangelist Jim Bakker, ensnared in fraud and sex scandal, dead at 86
- UPICenterScandal-plagued televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86
- BreitbartRight-leaningJim Bakker, who built ‘PTL Club’ televangelism empire, has died at 86
- Fox NewsRight-leaningJim Bakker, 'PTL Club' televangelist and fmr husband of Tammy Faye, dead at 86
- Independent Journal ReviewRight-leaningTelevangelist Jim Bakker, convicted in PTL fraud case, dies at 86
- Just the NewsRight-leaningJim Bakker, famed televangelist felled by scandal, dies at age 86
- New York PostRight-leaningScandal-scarred televangelist Jim Bakker dead at 86: ‘Finished his race with faith’
- NewsmaxRight-leaningJim Bakker, Who Lost His Televangelism Empire in Scandals, Dies at 86
- The Daily WireRight-leaningDisgraced Televangelist Dead At 86
- The Epoch TimesRight-leaningTelevangelist Jim Bakker Dies at Age 86
- The Jerusalem PostRight-leaningUS televangelist Jim Bakker, convicted of fraud, dies at 86
- The TelegraphRight-leaningJim Bakker, televangelist of the prosperity Gospel before sex and money brought him down – obituary
- The Washington TimesRight-leaningJim Bakker, who lost his 'PTL Club' televangelism empire in sex and money scandals, dies at 86
- The Western JournalRight-leaningBreaking: Televangelist Jim Bakker Dies at 86
- Toronto SunRight-leaningScandal-plagued televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86
- TownhallRight-leaningTelevangelist Jim Bakker Dead at 86