You’ve seen him on your TV screen for decades. First, he was the fresh-faced preacher with the oversized suits and the famous wife. Then, he was the guy in the headlines, the face of a massive scandal that shook the evangelical world to its core. Now, he's the white-haired man warning about the end of the world from a studio in Missouri.
Naturally, people are curious. How old is Jim Bakker exactly?
It feels like he’s been around forever. Honestly, in the world of televangelism, he basically has. Whether you remember the mascara-streaked 80s or you just stumbled upon his "prepper" buckets on late-night TV, Jim Bakker remains a fixture of American pop culture and religious history.
The Short Answer: How Old is Jim Bakker Today?
As of January 2026, Jim Bakker is 86 years old.
He was born on January 2, 1940. Think about that for a second. When Jim was born, the world was a completely different place. World War II was just getting started. Television—the medium that would eventually make him a millionaire and then a pariah—was barely even a thing.
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He grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He wasn't some high-flying city kid. He was the son of a factory worker. His childhood was strict, fundamentalist, and seemingly ordinary. Nobody back then would have guessed that this kid would go on to build a multi-million dollar empire called PTL (Praise the Lord).
A Life Lived in the Public Eye
The reason his age is so surprising to some is that he has lived several "lifetimes" in front of the camera.
In the 1960s and 70s, he was a pioneer. He helped Pat Robertson get the 700 Club off the ground. He co-founded TBN. Then came the big one: The PTL Club. By the mid-80s, Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were household names. They weren't just preachers; they were celebrities. They built Heritage USA, which was, at the time, the third most successful theme park in the United States, right behind Disney World and Disneyland.
Then, the crash. 1987.
It wasn't just a small stumble. It was a total collapse.
- The Jessica Hahn scandal.
- The fraud charges.
- The five years in federal prison.
When he walked out of prison in 1994, he was 54 years old. Most people thought his career was over. They were wrong.
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What is Jim Bakker Doing Now?
He didn't disappear. In 2003, he started The Jim Bakker Show from Branson, Missouri. If you tune in today, you won't see the "prosperity gospel" he used to preach. Instead, he’s focused on the apocalypse. He sells giant buckets of freeze-dried food and "Silver Solution."
It’s a weird pivot, right? From gold-plated faucets at Heritage USA to survivalist gear in the Ozarks.
But at 86, he’s still at it. He’s had some major health scares recently, including a stroke in 2020. People often wonder if he’s still on the air because of those health issues. He is. Despite the physical toll of age and the stress of ongoing legal battles—like the $156,000 settlement over his COVID-19 "cures"—he remains a daily presence for his followers at Morningside Church.
Why Do People Still Care?
There’s a certain fascination with survivors. Love him or hate him, Jim Bakker has survived things that would have buried most people.
He’s outlived his first wife, Tammy Faye. He’s outlived many of his critics. At 86, he’s a living relic of the "Golden Age" of televangelism. For some, he’s a symbol of redemption. For others, he’s a reminder of why they are skeptical of organized religion in the first place.
Moving Forward
If you are following his current ministry or just curious about his history, it is helpful to look at the facts behind the headlines.
- Check the Archives: If you want to understand the scale of his past, look up footage of Heritage USA. It explains why his current "prepper" stage is such a massive shift.
- Verify Claims: Especially with his current focus on health supplements and survival gear, always cross-reference his claims with medical and scientific experts.
- Read His Own Words: His book I Was Wrong offers a rare look at his perspective on the PTL downfall. It’s a fascinating, if biased, look at a very public fall from grace.
Jim Bakker’s age is just a number, but his 86 years tell a story of excess, failure, and a very strange kind of persistence. Whether he’s truly changed or just adapted to a new market is something his viewers will be debating long after the cameras finally stop rolling.
To dig deeper into this era of TV history, you can research the 1989 PTL fraud trial transcripts for a clearer picture of the financial side of the ministry's collapse.