US Televangelist Jim Bakker, Who Built Christian Media Empire and Heritage USA, Dies at 86

Jim Bakker, the 86-year-old American televangelist who established the lucrative Christian media organization PTL, passed away. His second wife, Lori Bakker, confirmed his death on Monday, though she did not disclose the cause. In 1974, Bakker and his first wife, Tammy Faye, initiated The PTL Club, which at its height attracted 13 million viewers daily. Their ministry employed 2,000 individuals and managed the 2,300-acre Heritage USA theme park in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The couple enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, including a private jet and luxury vehicles. Bakker resigned in 1987 following a scandal involving former church secretary Jessica Hahn, who accused him of sexual assault. He was later convicted of fraud in 1989 and served over four years in prison. Tammy Faye divorced him in 1992; she passed away from cancer in 2007. After his release in 1994, Bakker authored "I Was Wrong" and married Lori in 1998. They launched a new TV ministry in 2003 and began filming "The Jim Bakker Show" in 2008. Lori referred to him as "a pioneer of Christian television" and "my best friend."