Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who Is Joel Osteen?
Joel Scott Osteen is an American pastor, preacher, televangelist, author, and motivational speaker who is based in Houston, Texas.
As a preacher, Osteen is one of the most popular televangelists in the world, whose televised sermons enjoy millions of audiences.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Joel Scott Osteen |
Popular Name: | Joel Osteen |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | March 5, 1963 |
Age: | 60 years |
Parents: | John Osteen and Dolores Pilgrim Osteen |
Siblings: | Paul Osteen, Lisa Osteen, April Osteen, Justin Osteen, and Tamara Osteen |
Birth Place: | Houston, Texas |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | American |
Education: | Humble High School and Oral Roberts University |
Marital Status: | Married. |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Victoria Osteen |
Children: | Alexandra Osteen and Jonathan Osteen |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 100 million |
Source of Wealth: | Televangelism, Writing, Speaking Engagements, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 11″ (1.82 m) |
Weight: | 80 kg; In pounds: 176 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Joel Osteen was born on March 5, 1963, in Houston, Texas, to John Osteen and Dolores Pilgrim Osteen. His father was a one-time pastor of Southern Baptist. He also founded Lakewood Church, where Osteen currently ministers as the senior pastor.
After graduating from Humble High School in Humble, Texas, Joel Osteen proceeded to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He pursued a course in radio and television communications but didn’t graduate. In 1982, he returned to Houston where he helped to found Lakewood’s television program. Through the program, Osteen produced some of his father’s televised sermons until 1999 when John Osteen died of a heart attack.
Following the death of his father, Joel Osteen became Lakewood’s main preacher. On October 3, 1999, he was installed as the new senior pastor. Lakewood Church grew in membership dramatically following Osteen’s installation as its new senior pastor.
To accommodate the ever-rising attendance, Joel Osteen embarked on a project to increase Lakewood’s capacity. In 2003, he purchased the Compaq Center, which was previously owned by the NBA Houston Rockets team. He then allocated $105 million towards renovating the property.
The renovation works took fifteen months and included the addition of five stories as well as the acquisition of more sophisticated public address equipment. In 2005, the new face of the church was formally unveiled in a colorful ceremony that was graced by notable personalities.
Some of the guests were the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, as well as the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Three years following its grand opening, Lakewood Church’s weekly service television stream was available in more than 100 countries.
In addition to his televangelism work and speech engagements, Joel Osteen has also authored several bestseller books. He wrote his first book, Your Best Life Now, in 2004. The book made it to the top of the New York Times Bestseller list and featured on the list for a record 200 weeks. In 2005, Osteen published his second book, Become a Better You. The book registered an even greater success. It reportedly earned Osteen over $13 million in advances and royalties.
To date, Osteen has published more than 10 books, including:
• Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day (2007)
• Good, Better, Blessed: Living with Purpose, Power and Passion (2008)
• Hope for Today Bible (2009)
• Living in Favor, Abundance and Joy (2010)
• I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life (2012)
• You Can, You Will: 8 Undeniable Qualities of a Winner (2014)
• Think Better, Live Better: A Victorious Life Begins in Your Mind (2016)
• Next Level Thinking: 10 Powerful Thoughts for a Successful and Abundant Life (2018)
Joel Osteen’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Joel Osteen had a net worth of $100 million. He has earned his wealth from various endeavors, including his televangelism work, as well as writing and speaking engagements.
Osteen has since claimed that he doesn’t accept the $200,000 salary that he is entitled to as the senior pastor of his Lakewood Church. Therefore, it’s safe to imagine that most of his earnings come from speaking engagements and book sales. But then again with millions of people listening to his sermons worldwide, it isn’t difficult to achieve the $100 million net worth.
There’s no known real estate investment by Joel Osteen, apart from his family’s primary residence in Houston. The 17,000 square-foot mansion is currently valued at over $10.5 million.
Life Lessons from Joel Osteen
1. Never dwell on your weaknesses
Joel Osteen claims that public speaking was one of his greatest weaknesses growing up. In fact, it’s the primary reason he declined to become a preacher for many years while his father was alive, choosing to work behind the scenes instead. However, Osteen eventually overcame his limitations and is now considered one of the world’s best public speakers.
2. Never judge
Joel Osteen believes that we shouldn’t judge others no matter how vile they are, because we all have our faults. He once said, ‘’I’m going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell.’’
3. Wealth doesn’t necessarily draw you away from God
Osteen has been criticized for his prosperity gospel. Some people believe that his net worth is way too high for a man of the cloth. But Osteen has defended himself saying that God desires of everyone to be wealthy provided they’re grateful for those blessings.
Famous Quotes by Joel Osteen
“Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.”
“God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.”
“It’s God’s will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It’s God’s will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt.”
“When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.”
“Why don’t you start believing that no matter what you have or haven’t done, that your best days are still out in front of you.”
Conclusion
Joel Osteen is not only one of the most influential televangelists in the world. He is also a talented author and motivational speaker. Although he doesn’t draw any salary from his Lakewood Church, Osteen is still a dollar millionaire, thanks to his speaking engagements and book sales.