Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church spends $90M yearly—where does the money go?
Lakewood Church, led by Joel Osteen, remains America’s largest congregation, with around 50,000 weekly attendees. The megachurch operates from a repurposed former Compaq Center in Houston. Its financial records for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, reveal spending of over $90 million across various activities.
In that period, Lakewood allocated $31.7 million to weekly services and programmes. Another $25.1 million went towards its television ministry, reaching an estimated 10 million US viewers each week. The church also spent $6.7 million on Night of Hope events, which take place monthly in stadiums nationwide. Tickets for these events cost $15 each and consistently sell out.
Fundraising efforts accounted for $11.9 million, while administrative expenses totalled $11.5 million. The remaining $1.2 million was directed to mission and outreach work. Despite the high spending, Osteen and his wife do not draw a salary from the church, stating they want to demonstrate their ministry is not profit-driven.
Osteen’s influence extends beyond the pulpit, with 28 million followers on social media and over 8.5 million books sold in the US alone. His wealth and lifestyle have drawn criticism, including from pastor and professor Carl Trueman, who considers the opulence excessive. The debate mirrors broader scrutiny of high-earning pastors like Kenneth Copeland, whose reported income in 1995 was around $360,000 and whose estimated wealth now ranges from $300 million to $760 million. Such figures often spark discussions about the use of donations and the ethics of tithing during economic hardship.
Lakewood’s financial reports highlight its vast reach and operational scale. The church’s spending covers everything from broadcasts to large-scale events, while its leaders maintain they do not personally profit. The figures also reflect ongoing questions about wealth, transparency, and accountability in large religious organisations.
Read also:
- India's Agriculture Minister Reviews Sector Progress Amid Heavy Rains, Crop Areas Up
- Sleep Maxxing Trends and Tips: New Zealanders Seek Better Rest
- Over 1.7M in Baden-Württemberg at Poverty Risk, Emmendingen's Housing Crisis Urgent
- Life Expectancy Soars, But Youth Suicide and Substance Abuse Pose Concern
