| Age/Date of Birth: | March 5, 1963 |
|---|---|
| Height: | In feet: 5 ft 12 in In centimeters: 182 cm |
| Ethnicity/Race: | White |
| Nationality: | American |
| Husband or Boyfriend: | Victoria Osteen (née Iloff) (m. 1987) |
| Parents: | Father: John Osteen Mother: Dolores Pilgrim Osteen |
| Net Worth: | $50 million |
Over 7 million viewers weekly and more than 20 million monthly in over 100 countries across the globe tune in to listen to American preacher, televangelist, and author, Joel Osteen, who has touched many lives with his sermons. Given how successful he has become at what he does, it is difficult to imagine he once battled with stage fright.
Osteen’s successes as a preacher and serial New York Times Best Selling author accounts for his wealth, which is estimated at $50 million as of 2020. It is also the reason he is popular, and his popularity has rubbed off on his wife and kids. Over the years, it has been speculated that the preacher’s marriage is troubled, how true is that?
Fact Check: Is Joel Osteen and His Wife Getting a Divorce?
It is not a secret that Joel is married to Victoria Osteen who is a co-pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Their marriage has survived over three decades and like every other couple married for that long, they must have faced some challenges.
Joel and Victoria have been able to manage the problems that come their way and have continued to thrive as a couple. There has not been any valid report of the pastors having marital issues, at least to the best of our knowledge.
But then, that has not deterred people from speculating that the couple is headed for a divorce. While this rumor has endured for many years, it has remained a rumor and has not been substantiated in any way. This begs the question: what birthed the rumor?
The Preacher Isn’t Against Getting Divorced
Joel was born to John Osteen and Dolores Pilgrim Osteen. Before his father got married to his mother, he was married to Emma Jean Shaffer. The fact that his late father went through a divorce influenced his view on the matter which is a controversial subject for pastors to take on.
Known for his liberal views on traditional Christian values, Joel sees divorce as something that might be necessary. Although he does not uphold it as ideal, he believes it should not be seen as a mark of disgrace. The pastor encourages people to move on from bad relationships and find suitable partners.
It is possible that one of his several messages on the matter was mistaken as a hint at his marital woes.
Meet Victoria Osteen, She Was Raised in a Christian Home
- Full Name: Victoria Osteen, nee IIoff
- Date of Birth: March 28, 1961
- Occupation: Pastor and Author
- Duration of Marriage: 1987 – Present
- No. of Kids: 2 (Jonathan and Alexandra Osteen)
Known for her marriage to Joel, that’s not all there is to know about Victoria. As an author, she is a New York Times Bestseller and beyond that, the woman is a co-pastor of Lakewood Church.
Joel Osteen’s wife published her first book titled Love Your Life: Living Happy, Healthy, and Whole in 2008. It was one of the most popular books of the year as it debuted at number 2 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. She has a five-year deal with Simon & Schuster which will see her publish 13 children books.
It wouldn’t be out of place to assert that Victoria Osteen was prepared for her position as co-pastor of Lakewood Church right from her early years. She was born into a Christian family that was a devoted member of the Church of Christ. As you will easily find, her father Donald IIoff served the church as a deacon while her mother (Georgine IIoff) was a Sunday school teacher.
Victoria Met Her Husband at Her Mother’s Jewelry Store
While she served the Lord as a Sunday school teacher, Victoria’s mom made a living through a jewelry business she operated. This was where her daughter’s love story with the famous preacher began.
As the story goes, Victoria and Joel met in 1985 while she was working in her mother’s jewelry store. Joel visited the store to purchase a watch battery but as fate would have it, he met the love of his life there.
They had their first date at the church he now pastors with her, and the rest is history. About two years after they met, Joel and Victoria were set to become life partners. They got married on the 4th of April 1987 and their union has been blessed with two kids, a son and a daughter respectively named Jonathan and Alexandra.
Their First Child (Jonathan Osteen) Has Embraced Being a Minister
- Date of Birth: April 20, 1995
- Occupation: Musician and Preacher
Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Texas. As he has been a part of the Lakewood Church all his life, it is natural that he has embraced being a minister like his parents. He has become very active in the operations of the church in recent years and is looking forward to stepping into his father’s shoes.
Apart from delivering sermons on Sunday nights, he plays the guitar and sings. All of these attributes have made people believe he is an exciting future of the church.
Alexandra Osteen Is Also an Active Member of the Church
- Date of Birth: November 9, 1998
- Occupation: Singer at Lakewood Church
A 2020 graduate of the University of Texas, Alexandra is also passionate about the activities of Lakewood Church. She has always been popular as the only daughter of Joel and Victoria but her popularity soared after she started singing in the church’s televised services.
Also involved in full-time ministry work are Osteen’s older siblings (Paul, Lisa, and Tamara) and his younger sister named April. His half-brother named Justin is based in New York and is also a minister. Joel didn’t want to become a preacher but was urged by his father to do so.
Joel Osteen’s Ministry Took off After His Father’s Death
Joel Scott Osteen was born in Houston Texas on March 5, 1963. His father was John Osteen, a preacher who founded the Lakewood Church in the back of an old feed store. Joel attended Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma to study radio and television communications but did not graduate. Subsequently, he returned to Texas and began televising his father’s sermons through the Lakewood television program which he founded.
At the time, Osteen had a phobia for public speaking and only worked behind the scenes of the televised program, however, he preached his first sermon on the 17th of January 1999 after receiving much encouragement from his father. His dad died about a week later and in October 1999, Joel was made the new Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church, in line with the wishes of his late father.
He has since expanded the church and TV ministry. The church attendance which was 5,000 grew under his leadership to over 40,000 and is still growing. The church broadcast has also grown and can be viewed in more than 100 countries. It receives over 7 million views every week. Also, the podcasts and video messages available online have received innumerable downloads. Today, Lakewood Church is the largest Protestant church in the whole of the US.
In 2003, the Compaq Center originally called The Summit and formerly used for multipurpose sporting activity was leased to the church. The church put it under a $105 million renovation to expand its capacity. In 2010, the church officially bought the entire building for $7.5 million.
Given the massive members of the church and Joel’s position thereof, one may be tempted to think his wealth comes from his salary as the senior pastor, this is not so as you’d soon learn.
Books Are Major Contributor to the Preacher’s Huge Net Worth
Joel Osteen has penned over 10 books, 5 of which are NYT bestsellers. The first titled Your Best Life Is Now (2004) quickly made the list of bestsellers and remained there for over 200 weeks. Other bestsellers under his belt include Become A Better You and I Declare.
He has forfeited his $200,000 salary from the church since 2005; after his first book became a best seller. The televangelist lives off the sales of his books which have so far brought in over $55 million.
Osteen has been described as a fascinating person by Barbara Walters. His ministry has also been described as the most inspiring in the US. Republican John McCain described Joel as his favorite inspirational author.
According to Osteen, it’s better to focus on the goodness of God and on living an obedient life rather than paying attention to sin. Hence, he does not discriminate against homosexuals who are welcome to worship in his church. While he’s not homophobic, Osteen has publicly admitted that homosexuality is a sin.
A Look at Some of His Properties
The Lakewood church which has an annual budget of $70 million is actively involved in philanthropy. They have donated millions to feed hungry people, supply medics, and to cater for abandoned teens and children.
Due to his perception of life and prosperity, Osteen spares nothing when it comes to living a life of luxury with a fancy fleet of cars and a befitting mansion to go with them. The preacher and his family live in a 17,000 square-foot mansion worth $10.5 million in River Oaks. His former home is worth $2.9 million.
Joel Osteen has been criticized for his wealth and has been dubbed a “prosperity preacher”. During a 2013 interview with Christian Post, the preacher asserted prosperity does not always mean having tons of money but also includes being healthy, having great children, and peace of mind. He, however, admitted that money is part of it and that God wants us to excel and be rewarded in whatever we do. Osteen’s wealth is estimated at $50 million.
| Profile Summary | |
|---|---|
| First Name: | Joel |
| Last Name: | Osteen |
| Estimated Net Worth: | $50 million |
| Salary: | He used to receive a pay of $200,000 until he decided to stop taking salary from the church. |
| Source of Wealth: | Speaking engagements, sales of his books |
| Last Updated: | 2020 |
| Also Known As: | The Smiling Preacher |
| Sex/Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Pastor, televangelist, and author, |
| Famous For: | Being the owner of the largest church in America |
| Colleges/Universities Attended: | Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications, but did not graduate; he did not receive a degree from a divinity school |
| Educational Qualifications: | Dropped out |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Birthday & Zodiac |
|
| Age/Date of Birth: | March 5, 1963 |
| Zodiac Sign: | Pisces |
| Birth Place: | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity/Race: | White |
| Country of Residence: | USA |
| Physical Attributes |
|
| Height: | In feet: 5 ft 12 in In centimeters: 182 cm |
| Weight: | In pounds: 168 lb In kilograms: 76 kg |
| Eye Colour: | Dark brown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Other Body Measurements: | Not available |
| Relationships | |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Spouse/Partner: | Victoria Osteen (née Iloff) (m. 1987) |
| Family and Relatives |
|
| Father: | John Osteen |
| Mother: | Dolores Pilgrim Osteen |
| Children: | Son, Jonathan Osteen and daughter, Alexandra Osteen |
| Siblings: | Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen, April Osteen Simons, Tamara Osteen, Justin Osteen |
| Other Relatives: | Ellen Mae Leigh Brawner (paternal grandmother), Willis Jackson Osteen (paternal grandfather) |
