Rick Warren, whose father was a Baptist minister and librarian in San Jose, California, would follow his father’s footsteps after attending California Baptist University and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He spend most of his early years co-writing two books before establishing the Saddleback Church in 1980 where he preached his first sermon in a local high school theater in front of just 200 people. The church would go on to use nearly 80 different locations for the next two decades, eventually seeing over 10,000 people in attendance and
Despite his success and boasting a net worth of $25 million, Warren mostly relies on the income from his best-selling books as he has since decided to donate 90 percent of his wealth back to the church in what he and his refer to as “reverse tithing.”
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Thomas Dexter Jakes
“T.D” Jakes claims to have been called to ministry while he was spending much of his time caring for his invalid father as a teenager. While enrolled at the West Virginia State University, Jakes would preach part-time and was named pastor of a local Pentecostal church with only 10 members. The church would flourish under his leadership, establishing Jakes as a charismatic leader and trustworthy spiritual mentor. He would eventually transition into radio ministry, which only helped him expand his congregation. In 1996, Jakes and 50 other families would move to Dallas, Texas, where he would establish The Potter’s House.
These days, Jakes serves as the Bishop of the nondenominational mega church that boasts over 30,000 active attendees and broadcasts a constant flow of Christian programs across various stations. Jakes also has 13 degrees, and has won a Grammy and a Dove award for the best-selling gospel album Live at the Potter House. He’s also been on the cover of Time magazine, as well as made guest appearances on various popular TV shows, such as Dr. Phil and Good Morning America.
Jakes’ net worth is believed to be somewhere around $18 million.
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