Who is Joel Osteen?
Joel Scott Osteen was born on the 5th March 1963, in Houston, Texas USA, and is probably best recognized for being the televangelical Christian pastor and minister who leads the Lakewood Church, one of the largest Christian congregations. He is also recognized as a bestselling author of many Christian books, from which the most popular is “Your Best Life Now”. Would you like to know more about Joel’s career and family life? If you are interested, stay tuned to find out about his income and net worth.
Did he get divorced with Victoria? Divorce Rumors
One of the most popular Christian pastors, Joel Osteen, has been married to Victoria Osteen since April of 1987. Victoria is also involved in the church ministry, as the co-pastor alongside her husband, and is recognized as a bestselling author as well. Regarding divorce rumors, Joel and Victoria are still apparently enjoying a happy marriage, though they have been together for more than three decades.
READ MORE : Joel Osteen Divorce
Early Life, Parents, Siblings and Education
Speaking about his early life, Joel spent his childhood in Houston, raised alongside five siblings by his father, John Osteen, a Southern Baptist pastor who established the Lakewood Church, and his mother, Dolores Ann Pilgrim, who worked as a nurse. His mother is also known for publishing the memoir “If My Heart Could Talk: A Story Of Family, Faith, And Miracles” (2017). He is the brother of April, Lisa, Justin, Paul and Tamara, all of whom are active members of the Christian ministry. Regarding his education, Joel attended Humble High School, after which he enrolled into Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma to study radio and television communications; however, he didn’t complete his education.
Career Beginnings
After the freshman year, Joel decided to quit his college in 1982, and return home to help his parents leading the church. He initially worked in the position of the producer of the ministry’s Lakewood’s television program, created and hosted by his parents. He worked there for 17 years, and eventually influenced and encouraged by his father, Joel joined him in preaching, and gave his first sermon on the 17th January 1999, six days before his father suddenly passed away from a heart attack, following which Joel replaced him in the position of the regular preacher, and by the end of the same year, he was appointed as the senior pastor of the Lakewood Church. He is currently serving alongside his wife, Victoria.
About the Lakewood Church
The Lakewood Church was established by Joel’s father on the 10th May 1959, located in Houston. Under Joel’s father the church had approximately 5,000 members, and became one of the fastest-growing churches over time. Now it is one one of the largest Christian churches by the number of its worshipers across the US, averaging 52,000 people per week. It provides various services depending on the needs of its members, such as Kidslife for children, Lakewood Youth for high school students, Main Service for all adults, as well as four services in the English language and two services in Spanish each week. Since 2005, the church has been located at the former Compaq Center of the National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Houston Rockets, now a 16,800-seat facility, known as the Lakewood Church Central Campus.
Television and Radio Program
The Lakewood Church’s weekly services can be seen on such local channels as Daystar Television Network and Trinity Broadcasting Network, as well as on various national channels, including USA Network, Freeform and the Fox Network. The church’s television program is highly rated in more than a hundred countries alaround the world, with over seven million viewers weekly, which has also contributed considerably to Joel’s net worth. To speak further, the satellite radio on SiriusXM channel 128 broadcasts his religious teachings 24/7.
Controversy
During the wake of Hurricane Harvey in August of 2017, Joel Osteen faced serious criticism on social media sites, because of his initial refusal to open the 606,000 square foot Lakewood Church as an emergency shelter for people displaced by the disaster. In response to that, he later claimed that the church was unavailable due to severe flooding, but eventually it was announced that the church would be opened as a shelter, which was later honored with the proclamation of a “Lakewood Church Day” by the City of Houston.
Author
Apart from being a pastor, Joel Osteen can also praise himself as an author. He published his first book entitled “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps To Living At Your Full Potential” in October of 2004, which topped The New York Times Best Seller list. His second book “Become a Better You: 7 Keys To Improving Your Life Every Day” came out in October 2007, and also entered The New York Times Best Seller list with more than four million copies sold. His other books are “Hope For Today Bible” (2008), “Every Day A Friday: How To Be Happier 7 Days A Week” (2011), “The Power Of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today” (2015), and most recent, ly in 2017“Blessed In The Darkness: How All Things Are Working For Your Good”, all of which increased his net worth by a large margin.
Recognitions
Thanks to his successful career as a preacher, Joel has received numerous accolades and recognitions, including being named as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 by broadcaster Barbara Walters. Moreover, with his family he attended Easter breakfast at the White House in 2010, hosted by President Barack Obama.
Joel Osteen Net Worth and Assets
His career started in 1999, and he has been active as a Christian pastor ever since. However, Joel has stated that his income is not coming from the church, but that the main source of his wealth is from the sales of his books. So if you ever wondered how rich Joel Osteen is, it has been estimated authoritatively that the total size of his net worth is over $40 million. His assets include a 17,000 square foot mansion located in River Oaks, which is valued at over $10.5 million and where he resides with his family, as well as a luxury yacht.
Why is he so beloved? Prosperity Gospel
Considered as one of the wealthiest pastors, Joel Osteen is frequently criticized by audiences that his sermons are based on the prosperity gospel, also known as the health and wealth gospel, which represents a belief that people who have faith and believe in God will be blessed by material wealth in this life. In some interviews, Joel stated that he has never preached about money, and that he thinks the real prosperity is having a big family, being healthy and having peace of mind.
Children
Joel and his wife Victoria are blessed with two children. They welcomed their first child, a son named Jonathan, in 1995 and four years later, she gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Alexandra. Both of them are involved in the family ministry. Their son is a part of the family’s band, while their daughter sings in the church’s television programs.
Social Media Presence
In addition to his career, Joel Osteen is an active member across many of the most popular social media sites, which he uses mainly to promote his upcoming projects and books. His official Instagram account has more than 2.4 million followers, and his official Twitter account, over 8.6 million followers. You can also find more information on his own website.