When it comes to flashiness, priests and pastors usually aren’t at the top of the list of people you would expect to show off exorbitant amounts of wealth.
It’s no surprise that when photos of televangelist Joel Osteen driving a Ferrari surfaced on over the weekend, Twitter had a lot to say about it.
In Joel Osteen’s defense, Jesus also drove a $325,000 car and lived in a eight figure 17,000 square foot home.
You want him to park a Prius here? God don’t like ugly. pic.twitter.com/kMdYJNhL0c
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) July 18, 2021
“In Joel Osteen’s defense, Jesus also drove a $325,000 car and lived in an eight figure 17,000 square foot home,” joked Franklin Leonard, who posted his Tweet alongside a photo of Kanye West’s mansion.
Others weren’t as cheeky.
Remember that one time Joel Osteen helped the poor instead of himself? Yeah, me neither.— Mayo (@MayoIsSpicyy) July 18, 2021
Joel Osteen exploits religion and his followers to feed his own gluttony.— Kate (@ImSpeaking13) July 18, 2021
Ferrari is trending. That means either someone won a race or Joel Osteen took some of the money Jesus told him to give to the poor and went on another shopping spree.— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) July 18, 2021
I wonder if Joel Osteen thinks he can drive that Ferrari through the eye of a needle…— Rex Zane (@rexzane1) July 18, 2021
What would Jesus think of Joel Osteen’s $325,000 Ferrari?— Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) July 18, 2021
Osteen’s Ferrari reportedly costs $325,000.
The preacher caused a stir earlier this year when it was revealed that his congregation, Lakewood Church, received a whopping $4.4 million in PPP loans amid the pandemic.
“As the shutdown persisted month after month, given the economic uncertainty, Lakewood finally applied for the PPP loan and has been able to provide full salaries and benefits including health insurance coverage to all of its employees and their families,” the church said in a statement at the time.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Osteen is valued at nearly $100 million, thanks to his television broadcasts, public speaking engagements and book sales.
The Texas-based preacher lives with his wife and two children in a 17,000 square-foot estate which is reportedly valued at around $10.5 million.
Osteen hasn’t yet commented on the social media backlash but Tweeted about “greatness” earlier Monday morning.
Greatness doesn’t come from people; it comes from God. Yes, our natural fathers influence us, they teach us what they know, but your gifts, talents, favor come from your Father in heaven. What He’s spoken over your life will come to pass.— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) July 19, 2021
“Greatness doesn’t come from people; it comes from God,” he wrote.
Whatever happened to live simply and help the poor? I guess no one told him about this. Shame on him!!!!
The man is a fakse prophet!
He has absolutely no shame, remember the hurricane scandal? All he is…….is a motivational speaker calling himself a pastor. Fake, fake, fake nothing more.
In time all will be revealed only God knows the heart???
It’s blasphemy to live in such oppulence when this overindulge is what gives christianity a bum rap! A 10+ million home is way beyond what is necessary to live a comfortable life! He is basically fleecing his congregation and laughing all the way to the bank! Any mega pastor that does the same should be ashamed at themselves! When their conscious is seared, no amount of shame will bother their greedy life style!
And the people who fill his pockets are IDIOTS. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. What a racket Joel has going for him. TOTAL CRAP.
Anyone seen the new HBO show, “The Gemstones” (the title to the best if my memory) staring John Goodman. The first episode was awesome, taking viewers to the inside track of a mega church and ministry, including taking in parishioners’ money. The whole family had mega mansions and a fleet of expensive vehicles. I wonder who or what was HBO writers’ inspiration?