PTL Paid Bakkers $4.8 Million Since January, 1984, N. Carolina Paper Says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former PTL leader Jim Bakker and his wife, Tammy, received $4.8 million in salary, bonuses and other payments from the TV ministry between January, 1984, and last month, a newspaper reported Saturday.

The couple received nearly $1.6 million last year and $640,000, including a $470,000 bonus, over the last three months, the Charlotte Observer said, quoting an unidentified source “with access to ministry records.”

The Rev. Jerry Falwell of Lynchburg, Va., Bakker’s choice as PTL’s new board chairman, said the report was “essentially correct.”

Richard Dortch, Bakker’s successor as PTL president; Bakker’s personal aide, David Taggart, and two other administrators received bonuses in 1986 larger than their regular salaries, bringing their total compensation to as much as $360,000 each, the Observer said.

Dortch and Taggart again received bonuses early this year nearly as large as their total 1986 bonuses, the newspaper said.

“I personally think that the compensation is horrendous,” Falwell said. “I don’t think any reasonable person could believe these salaries are acceptable. In my opinion no ministry in America pays pastors and staffs at this level. In my opinion, this information could hurt contributions to PTL substantially.”