By Warren Cole Smith - Posted at MinistryWatch:
Published January 4, 2026
Inspiration Networks again tops the list.
Below is a list of 125 highly paid Christian ministry executives. The information was derived from the latest available Form 990 prepared by the ministry itself.We are not calling this list the “Highest Paid Christian Ministry Executives” because many pastors and other church leaders who might make more are not on this list. Churches are not required to make their Form 990s available to the public, even though many megachurches include media and other ministries that are funded by donors not associated with the church. These organizations and individuals include: Elevation Church, Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, and Kenneth Copeland.
Also, a growing number of Christian ministries identify as churches and thereby withhold their Form 990s. We think this is a troubling trend, and we have written about it repeatedly, most extensively here.
Now, more than 100 ministries in the MinistryWatch 1000 who have made this election. They include: CRU/Campus Crusade for Christ, The Navigators, Convoy of Hope, Compassion International, Gideons International, Willow Creek Association, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Denison Forum, and Ethnos360/New Tribes Mission.