Earlier last year, the internet erupted in controversy after a tasteless tweet from multi-millionaire Joel Osteen. Osteen, 61, has long been criticized for his lavish lifestyle and excessive spending and was slammed for his shameless hypocrisy. In addition to a vast salary, the pastor owns two palatial estates in Texas worth $10.5 million and $2.9 million respectively. The larger home features a pool, pool house, and three elevators.
Osteen declared in a tweet that It’s the simple things in life that bring us the most joy.‘ He also said that ‘and that those who ‘may not have a lot of resources‘ are ‘blessed‘ as long as they have their health. If you’re able to ‘look at the stars at night‘, you’re blessed. The internet was quick to pounce on his hypocrisy. Many commenters drew attention to his massive wealth.
One user quipped, “If you can look up at those stars from the balcony of your mansion, you’re Joel Osteen.” Another asked, “‘How anyone could send a dime to this morally bankrupt conman is beyond comprehension.” Others quoted Osteen’s own words saying things like ‘“You may not have a lot of resources..” multiple mansions, a yacht, and sports cars were all purchased off the backs of the suckers he’s referring to.”
Others responded by drawing attention to how Osteen’s church made headlines a few years ago refusing to open its doors to victims during Hurricane Harvey. Eventually, after being mercilessly mocked, the preacher recanted and opened the facility that had a capacity of 16,000 people. One commenter said that they “Saw Joel Osteen trending and thought he had locked his church doors during a hurricane again.”
Another user, sarcastically pointed out that “Joel Osteen, worth $100 million, living in multiple mansions, and owning multiple yachts wants you to know that money won’t bring you joy.” They went on to say “But he still wants you to send him all of the money you can.“ While the rumors that Osteen owns multiple yachts are unconfirmed, he has been spotted in an Airbus 319 jet which costs up to $100 million.
However, Osteen has made oblique comments which hint at his nautical excess. “If you want to enter the kingdom of heaven as healthy and wealthy as I am, name and claim yourself a yacht today! You need to buy your own because there’s only room enough for me in there. If you can’t afford it, don’t worry too much. Just focus on what you do have!” the pastor said.
Some users were more direct with their criticism. One commenter bluntly stated that “Osteen is a greedy hypocritical piece of garbage’.” Osteen has been in the public eye since he took over the Lakewood Church in 1999 when his father, the founder, passed away. The church found itself in hot water when it was revealed that it had received $4.4 million in PPP loans.
According to experts, Osteen’s church raked in $89 million in donations while spending $1.2 million on charitable causes. Recently the church spent an eyewatering $115 million upgrading its facility which formerly housed the Houston Rockets NBA team. The lavish renovations included two 30-foot waterfalls. Controversy is likely to follow the flamboyant preacher into the future.
Featured image: User:Justin Brackett, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons