Creflo Dollar

Evangelist

Creflo Dollar has built a multi-million-dollar ministry on the message that "it is the will of God for you to prosper in every way." He preaches that Christian conversion and disciplined steps of Bible study, meditation, tithing and other actions can lead believers to supernatural blessings and "total-life prosperity" promised by God. Dollar started what is now World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, near Atlanta, in 1986 with eight people worshiping in a school cafeteria. Over 30,000 members now meet in the 8,500-seat World Dome -- built for $18 million in 1995, without bank financing -- and in satellite churches in New York City and Battle Creek, Michigan. All that, plus Dollar's Change Your World TV broadcast and Arrow Records recording label, reportedly have combined budgets exceeding $80 million. His critics regard the "prosperity gospel" as a corruption of broader biblical messages. In 2007, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley named Dollar and other evangelists in a financial investigation, citing lavish lifestyles (in Dollar's case, including Rolls Royces and homes in Atlanta and New York worth millions) and questioning their use of money collected from churchgoers and viewers. Dollar has denied any wrongdoing.

Extra credit: Yes, Creflo A. Dollar Jr. is his real name. His father, Creflo A. Dollar Sr., was a police officer... Dollar's biography lists an undated bachelor's degree in educational therapy from West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Oral Roberts University (1998)... Dollar and his wife, Taffi, have five children... His books include Understanding God's Purpose for the Anointing (1992), Claim Your Victory Today (2006) and 8 Steps to Create the Life You Want (2008).

Other famous book-writing, Pentecostal televangelists on Who2 include T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen.