Joel Osteen has plenty of reasons to smile about. The American pastor leads the Lakewood Church, one of the largest congregations in the US. He’s also one of the wealthiest.
The televangelist and best-selling author teaches that God wants us all to live in wealth, not poverty. And so he does! Just look at his mansion.
Get ready to be blown away as I take you on a tour of Joel Osteens house!
How Much Is Joel Osteen’s House?
Joel Osteen’s stone mansion is simply insane! The property, which he bought for $10.5 million in 2010, is in the exclusive Tall Timbers subdivision within River Oaks, an ultra-wealthy suburb in Houston, Texas.
On paper, Covenant Trust, the corporation managing the family’s assets, owns the house. Because of this, the Osteens didn’t qualify for a homestead exemption (or a tax break on a primary residence) when they purchased it.
Consequently, they pay around $260,000 in property taxes each year. That’s more than what many Americans pay for their entire mortgage!
The property’s value has only appreciated over the years, with current estimates between $14 and $16 million.
Remember, the pastor preaches the prosperity gospel, founded on the idea that the more you give, the more you receive from God. Looking at his luxurious estate, it seems Osteen is reaping quite the divine return.
The Exterior
As you’d expect from such an expensive property, the outside of the Osteen home is pretty spectacular. It has all the fancy trappings of a millionaire’s estate, such as:
- Ornate stone exterior with massive pillars framing the front entrance
- Ornamental fence
- Sprawling manicured lawns and gardens
- Towering trees provide privacy from prying eyes
- An enormous driveway with room for 20+ vehicles
- In-ground swimming pool and separate pool house
- One-bedroom guest house
The Interior
Let’s get inside the house, which is just as impressive. Some of the interior features include:
- 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms
- 5 wood-burning fireplaces
- 3 elevators
- Soaring ceilings and massive windows
- High-end finishes and materials throughout
With all that space, they likely have rooms dedicated to specific purposes—home offices, media rooms, or maybe even an in-home spa or gym.
This is a home built for comfort, luxury, and entertaining visitors.
How Big Is Joel Osteen’s House?
The sheer size of the place is pretty wild. Imagine a 17,000-square-foot house nestled in two acres of prime Houston real estate.
In comparison, the average American home is around 2,500 square feet. The Osteen mansion is almost seven times that size!
And remember, the Osteens are only a family of four: Joel, his wife Victoria, and their two children.
Of course, a home this big requires a staff to keep it running smoothly. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Osteens employ a small army of housekeepers, groundskeepers, and maybe even a private chef.
How Much Is Joel Osteen’s Net Worth?
Joel Osteen’s net worth sits at about $100 million! So, how did the preacher become so wealthy?
Osteen is an accomplished author. His debut book, “Your Best Life Now” was a phenomenal hit. It dominated the New York Times bestseller list for over two years, selling millions of copies.
The book’s popularity led to countless speaking tours in sold-out venues, drawing crowds eager to hear his message of positivity.
Following this success, Osteen followed up with “Become a Better You,” which made him over $13 million in book advances. He has written dozens more titles and consistently filled stadiums over the years.
Osteen has also built a brand around his name. His merchandise, which includes calendars, board games, apparel, and devotional items, likely brings in tons of cash. And given his fame and influence, he probably has lucrative endorsement deals and partnerships left and right.
Between the book sales and speaking gigs, it’s reasonable to say that Osteen has paid for his properties with his hard-earned money.
Joel Osteen’s Other Properties
Besides the Osteens’ mega-mansion, they also have a $2.9 million estate in Tanglewood, another upscale Houston neighborhood. The 4-bedroom property is 5,600 square feet and fenced in by ivy-covered walls.
Next to it is a half-acre vacant lot, which they tried to unload for $1.1 million when they moved to River Oaks. However, I have no info on whether they found a buyer.
When you add it all up, the Osteens’ real estate holdings amount to a staggering $14.5 million.
Joel Osteen’s Controversies
Now, I can’t talk about Joel Osteen’s mega-mansion without addressing the elephant in the room: Isn’t it too flashy for a humble servant of the Lord?
Many have criticized the pastor for living so extravagantly while preaching the gospel. You might argue it clashes with the Christian teachings of humility and service.
But Joel doesn’t apologize for God’s blessings. He said he has not taken a salary from Lakewood Church since 2005. Since the church reportedly makes a reported $43 million annually from collections, that salary would be in the ballpark of $200,000.
This figure isn’t all that shocking, with a global congregation in the millions offering tithes (at least a tenth of their income).
2017, Lakewood Church made $89 million, yet only 1% went to charity. Meanwhile, the church spent $115 million renovating its facility, which used to be the home of the Houston Rockets.
When Hurricane Harvey struck, Joel faced intense backlash for not opening his arena-sized church to victims. After public pressure mounted, Lakewood Church did end up sheltering evacuees and emergency workers.
Wrapping Up
Mind blown yet? I know mine was after learning about the details of Joel Osteen’s house. Some might say it’s too out of touch, while his followers will probably tell you it’s a blessing from above.
Love him or hate him, Joel is living the life. With the continued growth of his ministry, it doesn’t look like he’ll be downsizing anytime soon.
When you preach that God wants you to prosper, you’d better have a house to match!
