Joel Osteen is an American televangelist, author, pastor and businessman who leads Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. As senior pastor of America’s largest single-site congregation, he’s built a ministry that reaches tens of millions globally through television, books and digital platforms. He has an estimated net worth of $100 million.
Biography
Joel Scott Osteen was born on 5th March 1963 in Houston, Texas, to John Osteen and Dolores “Dodie” Pilgrim. His father, a former Southern Baptist pastor, founded Lakewood Church in an abandoned feed store in 1959, building it from humble beginnings into a thriving congregation. Joel grew up immersed in church life alongside his five siblings: Paul, Lisa, Tamara, April and half-brother Justin, all of whom would later dedicate themselves to ministry work.
His educational journey took him through Humble High School, where he graduated in 1981. Joel then enrolled at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, studying radio and television communications, though he didn’t complete his degree. Instead, he returned to Houston in 1982 to work behind the scenes at Lakewood Church, founding the television ministry and producing his father’s broadcasts for 17 years without ever stepping into the pulpit himself.
Everything changed on 17th January 1999. Joel delivered his first sermon, stepping in for his father who’d encouraged him to preach. Just six days later, his father died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 77. By October 1999, Joel had been installed as Lakewood’s senior pastor, a role he never imagined holding but one that would transform both his life and American evangelical Christianity.
Tragedy struck the Osteen family again in 2025 when Joel’s mother, Dodie Osteen, died on 30th July at age 91. She’d become a beloved figure in her own right after her miraculous recovery from metastatic liver cancer in 1981. Her memorial service at Lakewood on 8th August 2025 drew thousands, featuring a performance by Stevie Wonder alongside tributes from Bishop T.D. Jakes and Houston’s mayor. She’s survived by five children, 19 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Career
Joel’s ministry career began officially with his ordination in 1983, though he spent the next 16 years working exclusively behind cameras. His transition to senior pastor was the beginning of explosive growth at Lakewood Church. Under his leadership, attendance soared from about 5,000 to over 45,000 weekly worshippers, making it America’s fourth-largest church and the largest single-site congregation in the country.
His biggest achievement came in 2003 when Lakewood acquired the Compaq Center, the former home of the NBA’s Houston Rockets. The church signed a 30-year lease, paying $11.8 million upfront, then purchased the building outright in 2010 for an additional $7.5 million. The massive 16,800-seat arena required $100 million in renovations, a debt that Lakewood finally retired on 31st December 2023 after two decades of payments.
Lakewood Church now draws approximately 45,000 weekly attendees across six services, including two Spanish-language services through Iglesia Lakewood. The church’s broadcast reach is staggering, airing in over 100 countries through more than 200 U.S. television markets and reaching an estimated 7 to 10 million weekly viewers. Networks carrying his programming include Trinity Broadcasting Network, Daystar, SiriusXM Channel 128, Fox and USA Network. His social media presence exceeds 28 million Facebook followers, with millions more across Twitter and YouTube.
In August 2024, Osteen launched the Joel Osteen Network, a free streaming television channel available on Roku, Vizio and multiple smart TV platforms. The church now employs 368 staff members and operates solely from its Houston campus.
Joel memorises his sermons and reviews his previous messages to refine his delivery. Critics have accused him of being overly positive and lacking theological depth, but Osteen remains focused on messages of hope, emphasising God’s goodness and encouraging viewers to live their best lives. His optimistic approach earned him a spot on Barbara Walters’s list of the 10 Most Fascinating People in 2006.
Joel released his first book, “Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential,” in October 2004. It became an instant phenomenon, hitting number one on The New York Times Best Seller list and remaining there for 200 weeks. The book has sold over 8 million copies to date. His second major work, “Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day,” followed in 2007 with a three-million-copy first print run and also topped bestseller lists.
Since then, Osteen has published nearly 70 books, with seven reaching number one on The New York Times bestseller list. Combined sales across all titles exceed 20 million copies. Recent releases include “Speak the Blessing” (April 2024), “Pray Bold” (January 2025) and “Chosen” (July 2025). His publisher, FaithWords, part of Hachette Book Group, simultaneously releases Spanish editions of his works.
The ministry hasn’t been without controversy. In February 2024, a shooter entered Lakewood Church between services, resulting in the attacker’s death and critical injuries to her seven-year-old son. The incident shook the congregation, though services resumed the following week with Osteen leading healing gatherings. Other controversies have included the 2021 discovery of $600,000 hidden in a church bathroom wall (connected to a 2014 theft) and criticism over accepting $4.4 million in pandemic relief funds, though the loan was fully repaid.
Personal Life
Joel married Victoria Iloff on 4th April 1987. Victoria, born on 28th March 1961, has become a prominent ministry figure in her own right, serving as Lakewood’s co-pastor since October 1999. She hosts “Victoria Osteen Live” on SiriusXM, leads the “Victoria and Friends” podcast, and founded the church’s Women’s Ministry in 2003. She’s also an accomplished author with recent publications including “Graced to Go” and “Exceptional You!”
The couple have two children who’ve both embraced ministry work. Jonathan Emerson Osteen, born 20th April 1995, married Sophia Hahn on 28th June 2022 in a private ceremony. Now 29, Jonathan leads Lakewood’s Young Adults Ministry and performs as lead vocalist and guitarist for the worship band LYA. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a degree in Radio, Television and Film.
Their daughter Alexandra Osteen, born 9th November 1998, is currently 26 and serves as Worship Director at Lakewood Church, leading Lakewood Music. She graduated from UT Austin in 2020 and released the album “Oh How Worthy” in August 2024. The Houston Chronicle profiled her in January 2024, to show her growing role in the ministry. She remains single and maintains a relatively private life despite her approximately 82,000 Instagram followers.
Net Worth
Joel Osteen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $100 million. He hasn’t taken a salary from Lakewood Church since 2005. After “Your Best Life Now” became a massive bestseller, he stopped accepting his approximately $200,000 annual pastoral salary, telling the Christian Post in 2013: “My dream was always to be able to work here and not have to take a salary… I don’t need to.” Neither he nor Victoria currently draw church salaries.
His income streams are heavily weighted towards publishing. “Become a Better You” alone generated an $8.5 to 13 million advance in 2007, surpassing Pope John Paul II’s previous record book deal. His speaking engagement fees range from $100,000 to $200,000 per event, according to booking agencies. He’s sold out Madison Square Garden seven times for his “Night of Hope” events, held in 83 cities since 2004. Combined annual revenue from books, speaking engagements and church collections reportedly reaches $70 to 90 million.
Lakewood Church itself generated $89 million in revenue in 2017 (the most recent verified financial statement), with 93% coming from congregational donations. However, only 1.3% went to charitable causes that year, earning the church an “F” transparency grade from MinistryWatch.
The Osteens’ primary residence is a River Oaks mansion they purchased in 2010 for $10.5 million. The 1937-built estate spans 17,000 square feet on 1.86 acres in Houston’s exclusive Tall Timbers subdivision. It features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, three elevators, five fireplaces, a pool house and a guest house. Current estimated value sits between $14 and 16 million. The family also retained their former Tanglewood home, a 5,600-square-foot residence valued at approximately $2.9 to 3 million. Combined, their verified real estate holdings total roughly $17 to 19 million.
One persistent rumour deserves addressing: the Ferrari 458 Italia. Reports have circulated for years claiming Osteen owns a $325,000 Ferrari, with photos supposedly showing him driving one through Houston streets. However, Snopes thoroughly debunked these claims in 2021. The viral photos were traced to Florida and Switzerland, with neither showing Osteen. The Houston Chronicle deleted its original reporting on the claim, and no verified evidence supports Ferrari ownership. The confusion may stem from a 2018 incident where John Gray, a Lakewood associate pastor, purchased his wife a $200,000 Lamborghini Urus.
