Joel Osteen's Net worth and What is Joel Osteen's annual salary?
Joel Osteen is a well-known American speaker, TV evangelist, and author with a net worth of $100 million. He runs Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which is a 600,000-square-foot former sports stadium that seats 17,000 people. Some people criticize him for his wealth and the "prosperity gospel" he supports. Since 2005, Joel has not taken an income from his church. Instead, he makes money from book sales, speaking fees, and other merchandise.
Personal wealth and income
Joel Osteen's different ventures, including book sales, a radio show, and public speaking, bring in over $70 million per year. Joel thinks people should not feel guilty about having wealth but should thank God for it. He relies on book sales for his livelihood, not a church salary.
Joel Osteen's House
Joel, his wife Victoria, and their children live in a big 17,000-square-foot mansion in the Houston suburbs, which they bought for $10.5 million in 2010. Today, this home is worth between $14 million and $16 million. They also own an old home in Houston, valued at about $3 million.
Key Facts
I bought a Houston home for $10.5 million in 2010 it is now worth $14–16 million.
He does not take a salary from his church.
He made $13 million from his second book alone.
Early Life
Houston, Texas was the place of Joel Osteen's birth on March 5, 1963. He is one of John and Dolores Osteen's six children.One of his father's earlier marriages produced a half-brother. Joel graduated from Humble High School in 1981 and studied radio and television broadcasting at Oral Roberts University, but did not graduate.
Career
Joel took over Lakewood Church and its TV ministry from his father, John Osteen, who was a Southern Baptist minister. He created his father's TV sermons for 17 years. After his father's death in 1999, Joel became the preacher. In 2003, Lakewood Church bought the Compaq Center, a former NBA field. Renovations cost over $105 million. The grand opening had 56,000 attendees, including famous guests like Texas Governor Rick Perry and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. By 2008, Lakewood's TV services were watched in over 100 countries. In 2010, Joel and his family enjoyed an Easter breakfast at the White House, hosted by President Barack Obama.
Joel has grown the church and its TV ministry worldwide. Every week, more than 50,000 people attend Lakewood Church, and Joel’s TV talks are watched by about seven million people weekly and 20 million monthly. Joel, who has no official degree, learned preaching from his father. He memorizes his lectures and listens to recordings to improve. He tries to teach Bible principles simply, with a focus on love and positivity.
Author
In 2004, Joel released his first book, "Your Best Life Now," which topped the "New York Times" Best Seller list for 200 weeks. His second book, "Become a Better You," sold four million books and earned him over $13 million. Joel has written more than 20 books, including "Rule Your Day" and "Your Greater is Coming."
Personal Life
Joel and Victoria Osteen, who is also a co-pastor at Lakewood Church, married on April 4, 1987. A daughter and a son are their two kids. Joel's siblings are also interested in ministry.
Joel avoids addressing controversial topics like gay marriage and abortion, although he opposes homophobia and supports Israel. In 2011, he and Lakewood Church were sued for copyright theft but won the case.
The response to Hurricane Harvey
In August 2017, Joel faced criticism for not opening Lakewood Church as a shelter directly after Hurricane Harvey. Initially, the church said it was flooded, but Joel later claimed it had never closed. Lakewood, a shelter, opened on August 28th. In 2018, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recognized Joel and Lakewood Church for their help in rebuilding the city. The church assisted over 1,150 families and donated $1.1 million for rebuilding materials, with 2,500 congregational volunteers helping.