What was Oral Roberts Net Worth at the time of His Death?

Oral Roberts was one of the first televangelists to spread the Prosperity Gospel Theology. He was an American Charismatic Christian.

Roberts has received ordination from both the United Methodist and Pentecostal Holiness faiths.

At the height of his career, he was one of the most well-known preachers in the US and is regarded as one of the founders of the charismatic movement.

People frequently stray from the Christian path in our modern environment. It is crucial to maintain our faith and our belief in God.

Roberts devoted himself to persuasive preaching to help others see the value of thinking.

He established Oral Roberts University and the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. Roberts’s work and his foundation has earned him massive wealth.

Let’s get deeper into the financial journey of Oral Roberts and how he achieved massive fortune.

So without any further delay let’s get started with our readathon.

Oral Roberts Net Worth

Oral Roberts estimated net worth at the time of his death in the year 2009 was $117 million approximately.

After calculating the inflation rate from the year 2009 to 2023, the amount will be $165 million approximately.

Similarly, his net worth for the year 2008 was $110 million approximately. Given the figures, we can estimate his annual income was $7 million approximately.

Oral Roberts Earning Sources

Oral Roberts, a Pentecostal evangelist who became one of the most well-known and divisive religious figures of the 20th century because of his broadcast faith-healing ministry passed away at the age of 91.

He was the founder of the prosperity gospel, a school of thought that asserts that Christians who give generously and pray earnestly would be blessed with good health, abundant wealth, and contentment.

Younger preachers of the prosperity gospel who now control their television and multimedia empires received training and guidance from Mr. Roberts.

Roberts’s mainstream earnings were diverse but his major earnings started as being a preacher and would receive his living from the State Central Body.

More than 2,300 persons were employed by the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University in 1985, and they generated $110 million in revenue.

The size of Mr. Roberts’ ministry, along with his ferocious preaching and jet-set lifestyle, prompted ongoing inquiries concerning his theology.

He had unconventional fundraising methods throughout his career, while no convincing proof of wrongdoing occurred under his leadership.

Roberts did receive money through his television career as well. And at one point his career was hitting the ceiling.

His preachings and teachings were appreciated by an enormous amount of people. Being such a famous personality earned him massive wealth.

Oral Roberts Financial Journey

Oral Roberts attended Oklahoma Baptist University and Phillips University for two years each after graduating from high school.

He eventually dropped out of school to pursue a career as a traveling faith healer. Oral Roberts quit his job as a pastor in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1945 to organize revivals in his community.

But in the late summer of 1945, while serving as the camp meeting’s minister, Roberts received an opportunity to become the pastor of a tiny church in Toccoa, Georgia, with 80 members.

He consented after asking the man who had given him the position to pray with him about it.

His tenure as the pastor at Toccoa was only a few months long. But it had a long-term impact on his professional life. While he was there, Roberts helped two people.

OREA Foundation

He went through some significant life changes in 1947. Roberts founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association (OREA) and launched a nationwide and international evangelistic and faith-healing campaign.

He started publishing the monthly journal “Healing Waters” in November 1947 to disseminate information about his gatherings.

Thousands of sick individuals lined up in front of him so he could pray for them.

Throughout his lifetime, he led more than 300 crusades on six continents and interceded for more than two million individuals.

Roberts ran seed-faith direct mail operations that were targeted at low-income Americans, particularly those from racial and ethnic minorities.

Achievements

The company was at the height of its success in the 1980s, generating $120 million in yearly revenue and employing 2,300 people.

On a 50-acre site south of Tulsa, they had built a hospital, a university, and a medical school, among other things.

The Abundant Life Prayer Group (ALPG), a different division of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, was founded in 1958.

ORU Foundation

He founded Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reportedly at the direction of God, in 1963.

He made his debut radio transmission in 1947. In 1954, he made his television debut. 80% of Americans were watching his television show “The Abundant Life” by 1957.

Between 1969 and 1980, they also aired four Prime Time Specials each quarter. He founded Golden Eagle Broadcasting in 1996.

Dr. Finis Crutchfield, the pastor at the time, received Oral Roberts and his wife as members of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In terms of doctrine and moral issues, this church was far more tolerant than the Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Later, he was chosen to be a UMC elder. Up until 1987, he stayed connected to the church.

Controversy

Roberts founded the City of Faith Medical and Research Center in 1981 after having a reputed vision of a 900-foot-tall Jesus.

His ways of raising money sparked debate. In a January 1987 television fundraising campaign, he said that if he didn’t earn $8 million by March, God would “call him home.”

However, he had previously stated that he would either amass the cash “before the end of the year” or pass away.

Jerry Collins, the proprietor of a Florida dog track, gave $1.3 million as a result of the widespread anxiety that he was considering suicide. Roberts amassed $9.1 million in total.

Oral Roberts Assets

Oral Roberts had several assets if we are talking about his wealth and fortune. Roberts leads a lavish lifestyle.

He wore gold bracelets, diamond rings, and Italian silk outfits. However, his investments were not identified at the time of his death.

But we can say surely, Roberts had luxury cars and a massive apartment where he spent very little time. Given the fact that we would always be traveling.

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Why Oral Roberts Was Wealthy?

Oral Roberts held the hand of religion and practiced the path of healing the community. His teachings affected people positively which earned him a huge reputation.

Further, he founded several organizations and institutions that even to this day exist after his death in 2009.

Whether it be preaching on a television program (oh yeah he used to appear on television as well, people loved him) or at public events.

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Bottomline

Roberts kept serving as the ORU chancellor, supporting the administration of the university alongside Billy Joe Daugherty.

He was chosen as the executive regent and assumed control of the President’s Office by the ORU Board of Regents.

Roberts served as the chancellor of ORU until his demise in 2009. However, he handed over control to Mark Rutland, who would follow Richard as president, approximately a year before he passed away.

The Oklahoma Senate passed a written resolution honoring Oral Roberts’ life in the middle of 2009.

At 91 years old, Roberts got this coveted award. Oral Roberts received his OAB Hall of Fame induction one month before he passed away.

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