Jim Bakker is still around, but his public life has been defined by scandal, prison time, and a later return to televangelism. He was convicted in the late 1980s for fraud and conspiracy tied to PTL Ministries, served about five years in prison, and then returned to broadcasting in the 2000s.

Quick scoop

The big “what happened” story is that Bakker went from being a hugely famous televangelist to a major religious scandal figure. Reports say his downfall involved financial misconduct at PTL, plus a separate sex scandal that helped end his original ministry empire.

More recent updates

He later restarted a ministry and has continued appearing on The Jim Bakker Show. In 2025, multiple outlets reported that he was asking viewers for $1 million to keep his ministry and home afloat, and one report noted he was 85 at the time.

In plain English

  • Then: TV preacher at the center of a major 1980s scandal.
  • Afterward: Served prison time, was paroled, and returned to ministry work.
  • Recently: Still publicly active, but with ongoing financial pressure and controversy.

If you want, I can also give you a 1-paragraph timeline of Jim Bakker’s life and scandals.