Televangelist Jim Bakker Dies at 86 Amid Past Scandals
Televangelist Jim Bakker, who faced disgrace due to fraud and sex scandals, has died at the age of 86. The news of his passing was reported by the Rapid City Journal.
Rapid City, SD, October 6, 2026 — Televangelist Jim Bakker, a prominent figure in religious broadcasting who later became associated with fraud and sex scandals, has died at the age of 86. His death was reported by the Rapid City Journal.
Bakker gained widespread recognition in the 1980s as the co-host of the PTL Club, a popular religious television program alongside his then-wife, Tammy Faye Bakker. The program broadcast from Heritage USA, a Christian theme park and retreat center in South Carolina.
His public life took a significant downturn in the late 1980s. Bakker resigned from PTL in 1987 following allegations of sexual misconduct and a subsequent conviction for defrauding his followers. He was sentenced to prison time for his role in a scheme that solicited funds from supporters for PTL ministries, with promises of exclusive benefits, which were allegedly used for personal gain and to cover up an alleged sexual encounter.
The fraud conviction and subsequent prison sentence led to a period of diminished public profile for Bakker. However, he later re-emerged in broadcasting. In 2004, he launched a new television program, The Jim Bakker Show, from his home in the Ozarks.
The nature of the specific fraud charges involved allegations of misrepresenting the use of funds donated for the construction of a new church sanctuary. Bakker maintained his innocence on some charges while acknowledging errors in judgment.
The circumstances of his disgrace and subsequent broadcasting career have been subjects of considerable media attention and public discussion over the decades. The Rapid City Journal is cited as the source for the announcement of his death.
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