Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were the 'Karadashians of the gospel' for a good part of the 1980s, raising close to a billion dollars for their PTL ministry.
It all came swiftly crashing down however when it was revealed that the couple had stolen millions of dollars worth of donations from people around the world to fund their increasingly over-the-top lifestyle.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg, with allegations that Jim had raped a secretary emerging around this time while his wife Tammy was forced to check into rehab for a pill addiction.
Their rapid rise and ferocious fall will be the focus of a new episode of 20/20 set to air on Friday at 10pm on ABC.
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Legends Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's fall from grace will b the focus of a new episode of 20/20 airing Friday on NBC (above in 1977)
If they build it: The couple sot to fame and raised close to a billion dollars over 11 years for their PTL ministry, even building a massive amusement-like park Heritage (above in 1986)
Distance: All the while the two made no secret of their lavish lifestyle and the money they splashed out on clothes, cars and jewels (above in 1988)
The Bakkers made no secret of their love for material things prior to the scandal, with Tammy in particular attaining an almost iconic status as a result of her colorful outfits and heavy mascara.
She was also the perfect accomplice for her husband with her ability to burst into tears of joy or sorrow at the drop of a hat.
The couple got their start by appearing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in 1966, and decade later they were in North Carolina delivering their first on-air sermon for The PTL Club.
Over the next 11 years their following grew exponentially until 1986, when PTL reported proceeds of $129 million.
They also opened their own Disney-like park in South Carolina, Heritage - which drew in six millions visitors a year.
It all came crashing down with an expose in The Charlotte Observer, which revealed how the Bakkers were spending those donations to the ministry.
The most damning was the $250,000 that Jim paid to silence secretary Jessica Hahn for what he claimed was a consensual affair.
Tears: It all came crashing down with an expose in The Charlotte Observer, which revealed how the Bakkers were spending those donations to the ministry
The most damning was the $250,000 that Jim paid to silence secretary Jessica Hahn for what he claimed was a consensual affair but she said was rape
It was also revealed that Jim had bee selling lifetime memberships to Heritage that far exceeded the available space, an offense that landed him behind bars.
He was ultimately convicted on 24 counts of mail and wire fraud and conspiracy.
Jim was sentenced to 45 years in prison, which was reduced over time, allowing the disgraced minister to wake free after just five years.
There were problems even before that expose however, with the IRS discovering in 1985 that $1.3 million in ministry funds had been misappropriated and put into the pockets of Jim and Tammy Faye.
It was far more than that however, with jurors hearing at Jim's trial how the couple spent over a million dollars on furs and jewelry, purchased homes and condos, erected biblical statues and spent $2,000 a month on electricity to heat their swimming pools according to a former aide.
That aide also claimed couple spent $105,000 to move belongings by private jet.
Tammy was never charged and stood by her husband's side during their trial, but divorced him while he was in jail.
She then began second life, where she became a popular personality in the gay community, thanks in large part to the years she spent espousing her beliefs of acceptance towards gay Americans and those with HIV/AIDs.
More will be revealed on 20/20 this Friday.
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/19/the-rise-and-fall-of-jim-and-tammy-faye-bakker-how-drugs-rape-and-stolen-millions-destroyed-them/
Main photo article Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were the ‘Karadashians of the gospel’ for a good part of the 1980s, raising close to a billion dollars for their PTL ministry.
It all came swiftly crashing down however when it was revealed that the couple had stolen millions of dollars worth of donations...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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