Religion and money make for an uncomfortable conversation, especially in South Africa. Some of the country’s wealthiest clergymen have built empires that stretch far beyond the pulpit, from private jets and luxury car collections to sprawling real estate and global media networks. But how accurate are the numbers, and who actually makes the list?
Here’s a look at the top 10 richest pastors in South Africa, their estimated net worth, and the expensive possessions that come with their names.
| Rank | Name | Estimated Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alph Lukau | $1 billion |
| 2 | Prophet Shepherd Bushiri | $150 million |
| 3 | Irene Tshifhiwa (deceased) | $42 million |
| 4 | Ray McCauley (deceased) | $28 million |
| 5 | At Boshoff | $28 million |
| 6 | Roberta Lee Houston | $20 million |
| 7 | Brian Houston | $10 million |
| 8 | Dr. André Roebert | $500,000 |
| 9 | Prophet Uebert Angel | $100,000 |
| 10 | Prof. Lesego Daniel | Unconfirmed |
Note: Net worth figures are estimates from public sources and have not been independently verified by financial authorities.
10. Prof. Lesego Daniel
Ministry: Rabboni Centre Ministries
Lesego Daniel is one of South Africa’s more controversial preachers. He founded Rabboni Centre Ministries in 2002 in Ga-Rankuwa, near Pretoria, and remains active in ministry today. He owns multiple properties, luxury vehicles, a large operational farm, and runs Rabboni TV. His actual net worth is unconfirmed, though available estimates suggest assets exceeding $400,000, which likely understates his real wealth considerably.
9. Prophet Uebert Angel
Ministry: Spirit Embassy, The Angel Organisation
Zimbabwean-born Uebert Angel is technically not South African, but he appears on local lists due to his regional influence. He founded Spirit Embassy and built a business portfolio that includes Angel Airlines, Club Millionaire Limited, and the Angel Organisation. His luxury assets include a Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and a mansion in Lincoln, UK, valued at over R50 million.
The published net worth of $100,000 is wildly inconsistent with those holdings. Some earlier estimates put him closer to $60 million. His reputation took a hit in 2023 when Al Jazeera’s “Gold Mafia” documentary allegedly captured him offering to launder over $1 billion using diplomatic channels. Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit cleared him, though the finding was widely scrutinised. He currently serves as Zimbabwe’s Ambassador-at-Large to Europe and the Americas.
8. Dr. André Roebert
Ministry: River Group International, Faith Broadcasting Network
Dr. André Roebert’s published net worth of $500,000 is arguably the most puzzling figure on this list. Together with his wife Jenny, he co-founded the River Group, a conglomerate of over 47 companies. Their portfolio includes Faith Broadcasting Network, which reaches 264 million potential viewers globally across DStv and Sky UK, River Air Charter Service, the River Hotels Group, and a 55,000 m² headquarters in East London. His actual wealth is almost certainly in the tens of millions, making the commonly cited figure a significant underestimate.
7. Brian Houston
Ministry: Hillsong Church
Brian Houston co-founded Hillsong Church in Sydney in 1983, growing it into one of the most recognised Christian brands globally, including multiple campuses across South Africa. He’s also a bestselling author and the executive producer behind Hillsong Music’s 60+ album catalogue. His estimated net worth sits at around $10 million.
His personal life has been turbulent recently. He was found not guilty in August 2023 of concealing his father’s child sexual abuse, and separately pleaded guilty to a DUI in California the same year. He and wife Bobbie sold their Sydney home and two Bondi Beach apartments in 2022, and both have since launched JesusFollowers.TV as a new ministry venture.
6. Roberta Lee Houston
Ministry: Hillsong Church, JesusFollowers.TV
Bobbie Houston co-founded Hillsong with her husband Brian and helped grow it into a global church movement. Her estimated net worth is around $20 million, though some circulating figures are wildly inflated and have no credible source. She was terminated from Hillsong in April 2022 following Brian’s resignation, and the couple has since moved on with a new online ministry. She’s also known for founding the annual Colour Your World Women’s Conference, which has been held across Sydney, London, Cape Town, and beyond.
5. At Boshoff
Ministry: Christian Revival Church
At Boshoff (formally Adam Johannes Jakobus Boshoff) is one of the most genuinely South African figures on this list. Born in Bloemfontein, he founded Christian Revival Church in 1994, which has since grown to over 120,000 members across 90+ churches in South Africa, the UK, the US, Australia, the Netherlands, and the Philippines.
His estimated net worth of $28 million is widely cited but remains unconfirmed. CRC built a 7,000-seat auditorium in Pretoria and a 5,500-seat facility in Bloemfontein, both entirely debt-free. His TV show “Discover Life” reaches around 7 million international viewers. He owns multiple real estate investments and travels by chartered helicopter and private jet between church locations.
4. Ray McCauley (Deceased)
Born: 1 October 1949 | Died: 8 October 2024
Ray McCauley passed away on 8 October 2024, just seven days after his 75th birthday, after a long illness. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared his funeral a Special Provincial Official Funeral, held on 19 October 2024 at Rhema Bible Church North in Randburg.
McCauley founded Rhema in 1979 with just 13 people and grew it into a congregation of 45,000, making it the largest single church in southern Africa. A former professional bodybuilder who placed third in Mr. Universe in 1974, he was also president of the International Federation of Christian Churches. His estimated net worth at the time of his death was $28 million. He drove a Mercedes-Benz AMG500 and owned multiple properties across South Africa.
3. Irene Tshifhiwa (Deceased)
Died: 24 October 2018 | Ministry: Divine Truth World Restoration Services for World Peace by Jesus Christ
Irene Tshifhiwa left a 12-year banking career at Standard Bank to enter full-time ministry in 2001, founding her church in Limpopo Province. She became the first South African pastor to own a personal satellite TV channel, though financial pressures forced it off air before her death. Her estimated peak net worth was $42 million. She owned multiple cars and properties, though her estate was contested in court by family members after her passing.
2. Prophet Shepherd Bushiri
Ministry: Enlightened Christian Gathering / Jesus Nation Church
Once one of South Africa’s most prominent church leaders, Shepherd Bushiri’s financial story has unravelled dramatically since 2020. His most cited net worth figure is $150 million, but that figure looks increasingly overstated given the scale of asset losses he’s faced.
Arrested for R102 million fraud in 2019, Bushiri and his wife fled to Malawi while on bail in November 2020. A Malawian court ordered extradition in March 2025, but the Malawi High Court overturned that order in October 2025, calling it unlawful. Then in February 2026, South Africa’s SIU released findings alleging he fraudulently obtained his permanent residence permit through a corrupt church member working at Home Affairs.
His seized assets paint a stark picture: a R50 million private jet sold under court order, a Pretoria mansion forfeited, another property facing auction for over R1 million in unpaid municipal rates, and SARS pursuing approximately R70 million in unpaid taxes. He once owned three private jets, a Rolls-Royce Black Badge, Bentley Bentayga, Maserati, and Aston Martin. His R1.3 billion Sparkling Waters Hotel & Spa faces creditor claims exceeding R200 million. He remains in Malawi, now leading the rebranded Jesus Nation Church.
1. Alph Lukau
Ministry: Alleluia Ministries International
Alph Lukau tops every published ranking of South Africa’s wealthiest pastors, with a widely cited net worth of $1 billion. He was born in Kinshasa, DRC, and founded Alleluia Ministries International in 2002, now headquartered in Kramerville, Sandton. The Alph Lukau Group holds investments spanning mining, real estate, energy, petroleum, media, travel, and education.
His digital footprint is impressive. AMI TV broadcasts 24/7, his YouTube channel has over 450 million views, and his combined social media following exceeds 12 million. His known assets include at least one private jet, a Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Range Rover, and a multimillion-rand home in Morningside, Sandton. Worth noting, however, is that the $1 billion figure has never been verified by any credible financial outlet. More conservative journalistic assessments place his wealth in the hundreds of millions, with some estimates falling as low as $2 to $10 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the richest pastor in South Africa? Alph Lukau, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, though this figure is unverified.
Who is the richest pastor in Africa? Alph Lukau is widely considered the wealthiest pastor on the continent, based on available estimates.
Which is the largest church in South Africa? The Zion Christian Church (ZCC), founded in 1910 by Engenas Lekganyane, is regarded as the country’s largest church. Rhema Bible Church North, founded by Ray McCauley, holds the record for the largest single congregation.
Who are the richest pastors in the world? Commonly cited names include Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Alph Lukau, TD Jakes, Chris Oyakhilome, and David Oyedepo, though none have publicly disclosed verified financial figures.
