Who is Joel Osteen and what is his annual income? Exploring the controversy around the US Pastor

US Pastor and Lakewood Church founder Joel Osteen has been at the center of online controversy after his alleged income details were made public. Biden supporter Michael Cleere tweeted that Osteen takes home $54 million from church profits, owns a Ferrari 458 Italia and lives in a 70,000 sq ft mansion. He also criticized him for owning a $68 million Airbus A319, a private jet that Osteen uses to travel to multiple locations to spread the gospel.

The allegations may not be proven accurately but they do paint a clear picture of Joel Osteen’s lavish lifestyle. Thanks to the tweets, a debate has now sparked online about pastors in the US and churches not paying taxes. So, where does all of Osteen’s money come from?

US Pastor Joel Osteen’s main sources of income
Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston has a weekly attendance of a whopping 50,000 people. With an annual budget and high operating expenses of over $90 million, it is one of the largest churches in the United States.

Lakewood Church owns a 16,000-seat arena, which was purchased in 2003 for $11.8 million and renovated for an additional $75 million. The church also owns a $10.5 million mansion that was purchased in 2010 and used as Osteen’s personal residence.

Another source of Osteen’s wealth is his bestselling books that generate millions of dollars in revenue. Osteen’s books often contain messages of hope and inspiration. But they also promote a “prosperity gospel” message that emphasizes material success.