Jimmy Swaggart: Career, Controversies & Net Worth
Jimmy Swaggart is one of the fascinating personalities of the United States of America who is an Evangelist, singer, author, pastor, and pianist.
This multi-talented has been involved in scandals and controversies throughout his professional life, which makes his life complicated and interesting at the same time.
Starting from a small radio station, Swaggart ran a business with around 250 television stations all over big cities of the United States.
Swaggart currently operates Sonlife Broadcasting Network and Family Worship Center.
So without further ado, let us begin his brief biography, including his early life, career, controversies, personal life, and net worth.
Quick Facts: Jimmy Swaggart
Well, before we get started, let us know some of Jimmy Swaggart’s quick facts:
| Birth Name | Jimmy Lee Swaggart |
| Age | 89 Years Old |
| Nick Name | Jimmy |
| Date of Birth | March 15, 1935 |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Evangelist, Singer, Author, Pastor, and Pianist |
| Place of Birth | Ferriday, Louisiana, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Frances Swaggart (m. 1952) |
| Children | Donnie Swaggart |
| Father | Willie Leon Swaggart |
| Mother | Minnie Belle Swaggart |
| Siblings | Jeannette Swaggart Ensminger and Donnie Swaggart |
| Education | Unknown |
| Religion | Christian |
| Height | 5 feet and 6 inches or 170cm |
| Weight | 76kg or 167.5 pounds |
| Eye Color | Grey |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Net Worth | $10 Million |
| Source of Income | The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast |
| Active Years | 1955-Present |
| Relatives | Mickey Gilley (Cousin) Jerry Lee Lewis (Cousin) |
| Social Media | Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube |
| Merch | Books |
| Last Update | April, 2024 |
Early Life and Family of Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Swaggart, a multi-talented personality, was born on March 15, 1935, in the beautiful location of Ferriday, Louisiana, United States of America.
He was born to proud parents, father Willie Leon Swaggart and mother Minnie Belle Swaggart, who belong to the white ethnic groups holding the nationality of the United States.
His father was a fiddle player, while his mother was a Pentecostal preacher. Jimmy grew up along with his parents and two siblings, Jeannette Swaggart Ensminger and Donnie Swaggart.
Furthermore, Swaggart is a cousin of Jerry Lew Lewis, a rock’n’roll pioneer, and Mickey Gilley, country music star.
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How old is Jimmy Swaggart? Age and Body Measurements
American musician Jimmy Swaggart is currently 89 Years Old.
Swaggart celebrates his annual birthday on the 15th of March and falls under the zodiac sign of Pisces, representing his personality as smart, musical, artistic, and intuitive.
Moving towards his physical appearance, this 89 Years Old musician stands 5 feet and 6 inches or 170cm tall.
Similarly, Swaggart weighs around 76kg or 167.5 pounds. Furthermore, he is blessed with gray eyes and blonde hair color.
Early Career
Swaggart began his professional career in 1955, working as a full-time employee in evangelistic.
He then began recording gospel music transmitting on Christian radio stations in 1960.
The following year he was ordained by the Assemblies of God and eventually founded a small church with the name Family Worship Center which later became district-affiliated with the Assemblies of God.
During the late 60’s he began broadcasting over several local television stations of weekly 30-minutes.
He also bought a local AM radio station to broadcast Christian featured stories, including black gospel and southern gospel.
However, during the 1990s, he sold many of his radio stations, and some are still running under the name Sonlife Radio.
In 1987, Swaggart wrote a book, “Religious Rock n Roll A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.” Similarly, he also wrote against worldliness in worship music in his magazine, “The Evangelist.”
In his magazine, he has mentioned that Christian leaders were in a terrible position, and God doesn’t borrow from the world to reach the people.
Controversies: Jimmy Swaggart
Shifting to Television and Prostitute Scandals
From radio station, by 1975, he shifted the business to television stations around the United States. In addition, he began telecasting for an hour every week.
Similarly, on his telecast, Swaggart featured Bible study and music. During 1983, his television broadcast was expanded to nationwide cities, including 250 television stations.
This gentle and smart Swaggart was once implicated in a sex scandal with a prostitute.
The scandal resulted in his suspension and his ministry becoming nonaffiliated, nondenominational, and diminished.
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Feud with Marvin Gorman
Swaggart in 1986 exposed Marvin Gorman, a fellow Assemblies of God minister who was having multiple affairs.
Furthermore, Gorman was defrocked and ended his time from the Assemblies of God.
And he began a feud against Swaggart, filing a lawsuit for defamation and inspiration to ruin his career and reputation.
Gorman charged $10 million for his loss and damage, while after the appeal and reduction of the amount, the case was settled in $1.75 million.
Swaggart’s Confession and Defrocking
On February 21, 1988, Jimmy Swaggart on live television gave a confession mentioning that “I have sinned.”
He confessed to being washed and cleanse every stain of sin from his body with tears in his eyes and to seeking God’s forgetfulness.
After the confession and defrocking, he became an independent and non-denominational Pentecostal minister.
1991 Scandal
For the second time, Swaggart was caught guilty with a prostitute on October 11, 1991.
Swaggert was pulled over by police officers in Indio, California, as he was driving in the wrong lane with a woman named Rosemary Garcia in the car.
Rosemary Garcia states that Swaggart asked her for sex as she was a prostitute.
After the scandal, Swaggart’s son, Donnie, said that his father would temporarily be stepping down from the head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
Jimmy Swaggart Bible College
Swaggart, in 1984 established a college in his name, Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (JSBC), which provides education with communication degrees.
The college was making progress till 1987 with several students of 1,450.
However, the following year, the number of students dropped drastically after the scandal of Swaggart with Debra Murphree.
From 1,450 students in 1987, it reached only 400 students in 1988. After that, the college dormitories were listed as apartments.
Moreover, in 1991, the name of the college was changed to World Evangelism Bible College, but still, the number of enrollments was declining.
Finally, the college was shut down after the end of the fall semester. After several years in 2019, the college was renovated and reopened by Gabriel Swaggart, grandson of Jimmy Swaggart.
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Personal Life of Jimmy Swaggart
89 Years Old Swaggart is currently living a happy married life with his one and only wife, Frances Swaggart.
Furthermore, the couples were married back in 1952 when Jimmy was only 17-year-old, and Frances was 15-year-old.
In addition, they were married in a God Church in Ferriday with a small assembly of 25-members, including their close relatives and friends.
Jimmy and Frances first met in the church when Jimmy was playing music alongside his father.
Moreover, a couple of years later, they were blessed with their first and only child, son Donnie Swaggart.
Donnie also began his career in music, singing Southern Gospel at various churches.
The family had to face poverty between the mid-’50s and had to struggle with only US$30 a week. Due to extreme poverty Swaggart also lived inside the church basement and small motels.
However, their situation started to change after he signed with Sun Records and began making $20,000 per week.
How much is Jimmy Swaggart’s Net Worth?
Swaggart is still active in his professional career, making a bulk of money.
Indeed, after having several decades of a professional career, Swaggart has accumulated a huge amount of net worth.
As of 2024, the total estimated net worth of Jimmy Swaggart is around $10 Million.
Talking about his career earnings, Swaggart made a considerable income during 1987 from his Bible college generating $150 million in revenue.
Swaggart earns from his college, music, church, and also as an author.
Social Media Presence
Jimmy Swaggart is an active social media user who is available on multiple social media platforms.
Besides that, he even has his own website with a domain name, jsm.org.
Moreover, Jimmy seems to be more active on his Facebook account, where he frequently keeps posting about religion and family.
Similarly, Swaggart has a massive 282.7K followers on his Facebook account.
Likewise, he also has over 25.4K followers on his Instagram account and over 20.5K followers on his Twitter account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (JSBC) shut down?
After the scandal between Jimmy Swaggart and Debra Murphree was leaked, the number of students declined from 1,450 to 400, causing the college to shut down in 1991.
What was the reason for Jimmy Swaggart’s feud with Marvin Gorman?
Jimmy Swaggart accused Marvin Gorman of having several affairs and ending his time from the Assemblies of God.
How many prostitutes scandals has Jimmy Swaggart been part of?
Jimmy Swaggart has been part of three prostitute scandals throughout his life.
Every originally called out for missionary works faces such temptation of sexual embarrassment , but to God be the glory who made it possible for pa Jimmy swaggart to overcome inhumilation . More strength papa, that grace of overcomers extend it to me how I wish I can meet with now that grace is still breathing.