Jimmy Lee Swaggart, one of America’s most famous televangelists, passed away on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90.
His death was announced through a statement on his public Facebook page, which read, “Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ.” A cause of death wasn’t immediately given, though he had been in declining health for some time.
Long before the fame and fortune, Swaggart was driving the backroads of Louisiana in a run-down Chevrolet, preaching in small churches for just $40 a week.
In his autobiography To Cross a River, he described how he and his wife Frances, along with their young son Donnie, lived in near poverty, crashing in church basements, motels, or the homes of fellow pastors. By today’s standards, they were surviving on the equivalent of just a few hundred dollars a month.
But the 1980s flipped everything. Swaggart’s ministry exploded into a religious media empire. At its height, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries was reportedly pulling in over $150 million per year, funding television broadcasts, a Bible college, and a lifestyle far removed from his early struggles.
However, in 1988, Swaggart was infamously caught with a prostitute in New Orleans, shattering his image and sparking a scandal that rocked the Pentecostal world. He wasn’t the only TV preacher brought down during that era, but his was among the most public. Though he continued preaching in the years that followed, his following and influence never fully recovered.
So, what’s left of the fortune today? Here’s a breakdown of Swaggart’s net worth, salary figures, and the legacy of a preacher who once dominated the airwaves.
How Much Is Jimmy Swaggart’s Net Worth Today? He Once Made $150 Million a Year
At the time of his death in July 2025, Swaggart’s estimated net worth was around $5 million—a far cry from the staggering sums he commanded at the height of his televangelism empire.
His story wasn’t always about millions. But once Jimmy Swaggart Ministries took off, the money came fast—and in numbers that shocked even his critics. By the mid-1980s, his ministry was earning more than $150 million a year, primarily through viewer donations.
In 1985 alone, envelopes poured into the World Ministry Center at a rate of over 16,000 per day, totaling more than 4.2 million a year. The donations weren’t small, either. That year, those envelopes brought in $120 million, which accounted for 93% of the ministry’s total revenue. The following year, it only grew.
At its peak, the ministry was spending $600,000 per day—about $156 million annually, according to Swaggart’s own team. That spending helped expand his message across the globe, transforming a former Baton Rouge cow pasture into a sprawling 12-building headquarters and the launchpad for his Jimmy Swaggart Bible College.
That same year, he had entered 193 of America’s 212 television markets and was being broadcast in 145 countries, with content translated into 15 foreign languages. Nearly $38 million, or 30% of his $128 million revenue that year, was funneled directly into keeping him on the air. That TV reach grew so fast that by 1986, ministry officials claimed nearly 50% of total revenue was being used just to keep Swaggart’s face and message on screens worldwide.
In 1987, the ministry hit a record $150 million in revenue, with about $135 million coming from viewer donations and mass mailers sent out at a jaw-dropping rate of 7 million pieces a day.
As for Swaggart’s own income, he claimed to live modestly by comparison. His reported salary in 1987 was $86,400, of which he said he donated $30,000 back to the ministry.
He also had another stream of revenue for his wealth: his gospel music career. Swaggart sold over 15 million records worldwide, earned a Grammy nomination, and maintained a devoted fan base outside of the pulpit.
Property
Jimmy and his wife, Frances Swaggart, lived on a 20-acre estate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featuring grand two-story columns and a private swimming pool. According to the local assessor’s office, the property was valued at $1.5 million during the 1980s.
Within the same gated compound, their son Donnie Swaggart owned a separate home on four acres, assessed at $726,000.
