Key Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Lori Beth Graham |
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Conversion | Easter Sunday, April 1989 |
| Ministerial Credentials | Received in 1991 |
| Marriage | Married Jim Bakker, September 4, 1998 |
| Show Launch | The Jim Bakker Show, 2003 |
| Net Worth Estimate | Approximately $500,000 (shared ministry) |
Early Life and Background
Lori Beth Graham was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 30, 1957, to middle-class, church-attending parents. She abandoned her upbringing and entered drug use and partying in her teens. She joined an abusive marriage at 17 and had three abortions and a hysterectomy by 22, which affected her ministry focus.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1957 | Born in Phoenix, Arizona |
| 1974 | Entered into first marriage at age 17 |
| 1974–1984 | Marriage marked by abuse and five abortions |
| 1980 | Underwent hysterectomy at age 22 |
| 1989 | Accepted Christianity at Phoenix First Assembly of God |
Ministry Career
Lori joined discipleship and outreach programs after her Easter Sunday 1989 conversion. Two years later, she became a preacher and started Mourning to Joy Ministry to share her story. Her 1998 association with Jim Bakker led to a 2003 nationally syndicated television program.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Received full ministerial credentials |
| 1994 | Launched Mourning to Joy Ministry |
| 1998 | Married Jim Bakker; united ministries |
| 2003 | Debuted The Jim Bakker Show in Branson, Missouri |
| 2008 | Relocated studio to Morningside, Blue Eye, Missouri |
Financial Profile
Although Lori Bakker’s finances are private, they are intimately related to her husband’s ministry profits. Donations, product sales, and speaking engagements fund the ministry. Teleevangelists typically disclose little personal wealth.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | Estimated $500,000 (shared with Jim Bakker) |
| Disclosure | No separate financial filings available |
| Revenue Streams | Donations, televangelism product sales, speaking engagements |
| Transparency | Ministry-level reporting; personal disclosure remains private |
Family and Personal Life
Lori married Jim Bakker in 1998, bringing two prominent ministries together for multiple projects. She stepmothered Christian activists Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman and Jay Bakker. The couple added five siblings to their family in 2002 and increased their foster care and assistance.
| Member | Relationship | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Bakker | Husband | Co-host, televangelist |
| Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman | Stepdaughter | Ordained minister and musician |
| Jamie Charles “Jay” Bakker | Stepson | Progressive Christian advocate |
| Adopted Siblings (×5) | Children | Family outreach participants |
FAQ
Who is Lori Beth Graham?
American preacher Lori Beth Graham gained Christianity in 1989 and co-hosted The Jim Bakker Show.
What led to her conversion?
Her conversion at Phoenix First Assembly of God on Easter Sunday, April 1989, was life-changing.
What ministries has she founded?
In 1994, she created Mourning to Joy Ministry and Lori’s House to help unwanted mothers.
She started The Jim Bakker Show when?
In 2003, she and her husband founded The Jim Bakker Show, moving to Blue Eye, Missouri, in 2008.
What is known about her net worth?
Her personal net worth is unknown, although commonly included in the ministry’s $500,000 estimate.
Who are her famous relatives?
Her famous family comprises her spouse Jim Bakker, stepchildren Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman and Jay Bakker, and five adoptive siblings.
