Jim Bakker, TV preacher felled by scandals, dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the once-successful televangelist who built an empire before his scandalous downfall, passed away at the age of 86 on Monday. His second wife, Lori Bakker, announced the news on her husband's latest television ministry's social media accounts, expressing her sadness. Bakker's life story was one of rise and fall, from a humble beginning to a multimillion-dollar operation employing 2,000 people and a grand 2,300-acre complex named Heritage USA.

His fame peaked during the 1980s with the hit show "The PTL Club," which drew 13 million viewers across 200 TV stations. However, Bakker's prosperity gospel soon became clouded by controversy. He faced a sex scandal involving a former church secretary, Jessica Hahn, and was convicted of defrauding followers with a scheme involving vacations at Heritage USA.

Sentenced to 45 years in prison, Bakker served only 4-1/2 years and emerged in 1994, renouncing his previous teachings and marrying his second wife, Lori. Together, they started a new television ministry in 2003, but Bakker's career was not without further troubles. In 2008, they began taping "The Jim Bakker Show," only to face backlash in 2020 for selling a false treatment for COVID-19.

Despite his transgressions, Bakker maintained a strong connection with his followers, continuing to solicit donations until his death.