Jimmy Lee Swaggart (March 15, 1935 – July 1, 2025) was an American Pentecostal televangelist, pastor, media mogul, author, and gospel music artist. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God and rose to fame as one of America’s most prominent televangelists.
In the 1980s, his crusades attracted large crowds and widespread media coverage. Swaggart founded Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, which operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN), and established the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College. He served as senior pastor of the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Table of Contents
Who is Jimmy Swaggart?
Jimmy Swaggart had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death. In his autobiography, To Cross a River, he described living in poverty during the 1950s with his wife and son, surviving on $30 a week (about $340 in 2024) while preaching across rural Louisiana.
Too poor to own a home, they stayed in church basements, pastors’ homes, and motels. Sam Phillips of Sun Records wanted Swaggart as the label’s first gospel artist, but he declined, saying he was called to preach. His cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis, had signed with Sun and was earning $20,000 a week.
Early Life
Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. He was the first of two children of Willie Leon “Son” Swaggart (1915–1998), a sharecropper, fiddle player, and Pentecostal preacher, and Minnie Bell Herron (1917–1960), a housewife and daughter of William Herron, also a sharecropper.
His parents were related by marriage, creating a large, tightly connected extended family. Swaggart was the cousin of rockabilly pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley.
Career
Jimmy Swaggart began full-time evangelistic work in 1955, preaching from a flatbed trailer donated to him. He built a strong revival-meeting following across the American South. In 1960, he started recording gospel music albums and broadcasting on Christian radio.
Swaggart was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1961, and launched his radio ministry in 1962. In the late 1960s, he founded the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which later became district-affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
Personal Life
Jimmy Swaggart married Frances Anderson on October 10, 1952, and they had one child, Donnie Swaggart. Both Donnie and his son, Gabriel Swaggart, are preachers, marking four generations of Swaggarts involved in ministry.
On June 15, 2025, Swaggart was hospitalized in intensive care after suffering cardiac arrest at home. His son stated, “Without a miracle, his time will be short.” Swaggart died in Baton Rouge on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90.
Who is the Head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries?
Gabriel Swaggart, representing the third generation of the Swaggart family, now stands at the helm of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. As President of JSBC and co-pastor of the Family Worship Center, Gabriel continues the legacy of his grandfather, shaping the future direction of their evangelical mission.
Conclusion
Jimmy Swaggart’s financial journey is a complex narrative of rise, fall, and redemption. With a net worth of $10 million, his story underscores the potent combination of faith, controversy, and resilience. As the ministry looks to the future under Gabriel Swaggart’s leadership, it remains a significant force in global evangelicalism.
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FAQs about Jimmy Swaggart
- How did Jimmy Swaggart accumulate his wealth? – Through his successful televangelism ministry, music sales, and donations.
- What was the impact of the scandals on Swaggart’s ministry? – They led to a temporary step down and defrocking but also a period of rebuilding and continued evangelical work.
- What is the scope of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries today? – It includes global television broadcasting, a Bible college, and a family-centric leadership structure.
- How has the Swaggart family contributed to the ministry? – The Swaggart family has played integral roles, from leadership positions to active participation in preaching and worship.
- What lessons can be learned from Swaggart’s financial journey? – It highlights the potential for recovery and sustained impact in the face of adversity, driven by faith and community support.
