Pulpit Pimps?

Some mega-church pastors are living large, from T.D. Jakes' $45 million sanctuary to Creflo Dollar's two Rolls-Royces. Take a look at some of the high-rollers in the pulpit.

• 

  1 of 9

  Eddie Long

  Founder of 30,000-member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church just outside of Atlanta. His virulent homophobia and $250,000 Easter services in the Georgia Dome have garnered him yearly pay of up to $5 million and made him a pastor revered by the family of Martin Luther King Jr. Long gives back to the community via his Christian School and summer program for youngsters. Although he has said that homosexuality is a "spiritual abortion," he has recently been sued on the grounds that he coerced two men into sexual relationships.

• 

  2 of 9

  Kenneth Copeland

  "Dean" of the "Word of Faith movement," which suggests that salvation comes only via faith in the biblical word of God. Once claimed that God was 6 feet 2 or 6 feet 3 and just over 200 pounds. He reportedly travels on a private jet but also has his own general aviation airfield. Attended Oral Roberts University.

• 

  3 of 9

  Creflo Dollar

  Founder of 30,000-member World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga., which has a 5,000-member satellite church in New York City. Reportedly owns two Rolls-Royces, a $2.5 million New York City apartment, a million-dollar home in Atlanta and a private jet. He preaches a "prosperity" gospel that suggests that ownership of material goods is a symbol of the power of one's faith. Dollar holds an honorary degree from Oral Roberts University.

• 

  4 of 9

  Randy and Paula White

  Paula White has her own ministry and left Without Walls International Ministry in Tampa to her ex-husband, Randy. Paula, for years the most popular preacher on BET for years, has been the personal life coach to Tyra Banks. She has been known to say to black women, "Slap somebody right upside their weave and say 'Get in the Flow.' " She drives a Mercedes, has a private jet and has a home worth more than $1 million.

• 

  5 of 9

  Joyce Meyer

  Runs Joyce Meyer Ministries out of a suburb of St. Louis, Mo. Many regard her as a female version of Kenneth Copeland. Meyer has overcome sexual abuse as a child, an abusive first husband and breast cancer. She is seen and heard on more than 800 radio and television stations worldwide. She lives in a $2 million home and reportedly flies on a $10 million aircraft.

• 

  6 of 9

  Frederick K.C. Price

  Black "Dean" of the "Word of Faith" Movement and founder of the "Ever Increasing Faith Ministries," which runs out of his Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles and has almost 20,000 members. He is the architect of the "name it and claim it” rhetoric used by so many Christians today. He once claimed to drive in a Rolls-Royce in order to follow in Jesus' steps. In 2009 he passed on the day-to-day running of CCC to his son, Fred Price Jr.

• 

  7 of 9

  T.D. Jakes

  Established the 35,000-member Potter's House in Dallas in 1996. The $45 million sanctuary and the $11 million Clay Academy private school were both built by Jakes. The entrepreneurial pastor has been on The New York Times best-seller list, written and produced a Hollywood movie, and penned a Grammy-winning song.

• 

  8 of 9

  Benny Hinn

  Charismatic televangelist healer and worldwide miracle worker, Hinn was born in Israel and raised in Canada. He often speaks to audiences of more than 100,000 people and claims to have healed thousands. This ultrarich white-suited preacher once claimed that God would destroy homosexuals in America. He holds an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts University.

• 

  9 of 9

  Now What? Join The Root!

  Have an opinion on what you just read? Register so you can comment and receive The Root's newsletter. [11]

  Just want to read more? Check our top stories [12].