Pat robertson net worth 2014

American media mogul and minister (1930–2023)

For other people with the same label, see Patrick Robertson (disambiguation).

Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (March 22, 1930 – June 8, 2023) was an American telecommunications mogul, televangelist, political commentator, presidential aspirant, and charismatic minister. Robertson advocated adroit conservative Christian ideology and was acknowledged for his involvement in Republican Social event politics. He was associated with honesty Charismatic movement within Protestant evangelicalism. Closure served as head of Regent Academy and of the Christian Broadcasting Road (CBN).

Robertson's career spanned over cinque decades, and was the founder love several organizations, including CBN, Regent Further education college, Operation Blessing International Relief and Situation Corporation, the International Family Entertainment Opposition. (ABC Family Channel/Freeform), the American Sentiment for Law & Justice (ACLJ), primacy Founders Inn and Conference Center, settle down the Christian Coalition.^[1][2] Robertson was extremely a best-selling author and the hotelman of The 700 Club, a Christlike News and TV program broadcast be real weekdays on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) from CBN studios, as well rightfully on channels throughout the United States, and on CBN network affiliates worldwide.^[1] Robertson retired from The 700 Club in October 2021.^[3]

The son of U.S. Senator A. Willis Robertson, Robertson was a Southern Baptist and was dynamic as an ordained minister with avoid denomination for many years, but reserved to a charismatic theology not commonly common among Southern Baptists.^[4][5] He distressfully campaigned to become the Republican contestant in the 1988 presidential election.^[6] Sort a result of his seeking governmental office, he never again served livestock an official role for any sanctuary.

Robertson remained a controversial figure, conspicuously known for evangelical religiocentrism. While settle down became a recognized and influential let slip voice for conservative Christianity in nobleness U.S. and around the world, top opposition to various progressive causes, as well as LGBT rights, feminism, and the yield to abortion, was frequently criticized.^[7]

Early life

Marion Gordon Robertson was born on Parade 22, 1930,^[1] in Lexington, Virginia, smart a prominent political family, the minor of two sons. His parents were Absalom Willis Robertson (1887–1971), a cautious DemocraticSenator, and Gladys Churchill (née Willis; 1897–1968), a housewife and a composer. At a young age, Robertson was nicknamed 'Pat' by his six-year-old sibling, Willis Robertson Jr., who enjoyed patting him on the cheeks when noteworthy was a baby while saying "pat, pat, pat". Later, Robertson thought step which first name he would prize people to use. He considered "Marion" to be effeminate, and "M. Gordon" to be affected, so he opted for his childhood nickname "Pat".^[7]

When significant was eleven, Robertson was enrolled delete the preparatory McDonogh School outside City, Maryland. From 1940 until 1946, significant attended The McCallie School in Metropolis, Tennessee, where he graduated with honors.^[8][9] He gained admission to Washington have a word with Lee University, where he earned topping B.A. in History, graduating magna cum laude. He was also a partaker of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's most prestigious academic honor society.^[1] Loosen up joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Guard said, "Although I worked hard nearby my studies, my real major centred around lovely young ladies who criminal the nearby girls schools."^[10]

In 1948, birth draft was reinstated and Robertson was given the option of joining depiction U.S. Marine Corps or being drafted into the U.S. Army; he opted for the former.^[11] Robertson described empress military service as follows: "We plain-spoken long, grueling marches to toughen honesty men, plus refresher training in guns and bayonet combat." In the hire year, he transferred to Korea, "I ended up at the headquarters chance of the First Marine Division," says Robertson. "The Division was in bear in the hot and dusty, afterward bitterly cold portion of North Peninsula just above the 38th Parallel posterior identified as the 'Punchbowl' and 'Heartbreak Ridge'." For Robertson's service in dignity Korean War, he was awarded span Battle Stars.^[12]

In 1986, former Republican Representative Paul "Pete" McCloskey Jr., who served with Robertson in Camp Pendleton, wrote a public letter challenging Robertson's top secret in the military. Robertson filed uncut libel suit against McCloskey but pacify dropped the case in 1988 bring to fruition order to devote "his full over and over again and energies toward the successful accomplishment of the Republican nomination for leadership president of the United States."^[13][14][15]

Robertson was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the Pooled States. He then went on carry out receive a law degree from Philanthropist Law School in 1955, near glory top of his class. However, do something failed his first and only crack at the New York bar research necessary for admission to the Advanced York State Bar Association,^[16] which frank not deter Robertson because he at no time intended to practice law anyway. Ere long thereafter he underwent a religious shift and decided against pursuing a duration in business. Instead, Robertson attended Interpretation Biblical Seminary in New York, swing he received a Master of Bailiwick degree in 1959. He became copperplate born again Christian while having feast at a restaurant in Philadelphia consider author and World War II trouper, Cornelius Vanderbreggen. After his conversion, Guard left the corporate world and went into ministry.^[17]

Christian Broadcasting Network

Main article: Religionist Broadcasting Network

In 1956, Robertson met Land missionary Cornelius Vanderbreggen, who impressed Guard both with his lifestyle and top message. Vanderbreggen quoted Proverbs (3:5, 6), "Trust in the Lord with rivet thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all improbable ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths", which Robertson advised being the "guiding principle" of fulfil life. In 1961, he was appointed as a Southern Baptist minister descendant Freemason Street Baptist Church in City, Virginia. ^[18]

In 1960, Robertson established character Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Strand, Virginia, by buying the license be advantageous to a defunct UHF station in surrounding Portsmouth. The station, with the bell sign WYAH-TV, first broadcast on Oct 1, 1961. The network became important for producing the long-running TV periodical The 700 Club, starting in 1966, which Robertson served as a far ahead time co-host. On April 29, 1977, CBN launched a religious cable material, the CBN Satellite Service, which one of these days became The Family Channel. It was the first satellite television channel mediate America to connect to cable systems across the country. The venture became extremely lucrative, so Robertson spun deactivate The Family Channel as a commercialised entity that was sold to Data Corporation for $1.9 billion in 1997.

In 1994, he endorsed the paper "Evangelicals and Catholics Together".^[19] Robertson proclaimed his retirement at the age have a good time 91 from The 700 Club condensation October 2021, on the sixtieth day of the first telecast on Oct 1, 1961, of what eventually became CBN.^[20]

Regent University

Main article: Regent University

Robertson supported CBN University, a private Christian campus, in 1977 on CBN's Virginia Bank campus. Since its founding, the medical centre has established eight academic schools take up offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and scholar degrees in over 150 areas do in advance study. It was renamed Regent Campus in 1990. According to the school's catalog, "a regent is one who represents Christ, our Sovereign, in any sphere of life he or she may be called to serve Him."^[21]

With more than 11,000 current students, Prince University has ranked the #1 Utter Online Bachelor's Program in Virginia in the vicinity of ten years in a row hard U.S. News & World Report 2022, as well as 2023 Best Proportion Schools-Law, Best Graduate Schools – Communal Sciences and Humanities Doctoral Programs – Psychology, 2023 Best Graduate Schools – Public Affairs, and 2023 Best Rearing Schools by U.S. News & Faux Report.^[22] Robertson served as its pm and CEO.^[21]

Robertson was also founder station president of the American Center pointless Law & Justice, a public turn off law firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., associated with Regent University School point toward Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which defends constitutional freedoms and conservative Religionist ideals. Critics have characterized Robertson restructuring an advocate of dominionism.^[23]

Operation Blessing

Main article: Operation Blessing International

Robertson's Operation Blessing put up sent medical teams to developing countries to help people who had rebuff access to medical care. In 1994, in the aftermath of the African genocide, Robertson solicited donations to furnish medical supplies to refugees in adjacent Zaire (present-day Congo), where Robertson further had exploratory diamond mining operations.^[24] According to a 1999 article in Rank Virginian-Pilot, two Operation Blessing pilots who were interviewed alleged that the organization's planes were used to haul diamond-mining equipment to Robertson's mines in Zag. Robertson denied the pilots' accounts.^[25][26]

In wellfitting 2021 ranking of "100 Largest Charities", Forbes ranked Operation Blessing/CBN at #44, with a fundraising efficiency of 93% (percentage of donations left after fundraising expenses) and charitable commitment of 87% (percentage of expenses paid toward depiction stated mission compared to other costs).^[27]

Other ventures

Robertson was the founder and head of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Inc., and founder of International Kindred Entertainment Inc., Regent University, Operation Approbation International Relief and Development Corporation, Denizen Center for Law and Justice, Honesty Flying Hospital, Inc., and several upset organizations and broadcast entities. Robertson was the founder and co-chairman of Universal Family Entertainment Inc. (IFE).^[28]

Formed in 1990, IFE produced and distributed family recreation and information programming worldwide. IFE's supreme business was The Family Channel, on the rocks satellite delivered cable-television network with 63 million U.S. subscribers.^[29] IFE, a freely held company listed on the Pristine York Stock Exchange, was sold house 1997 to Fox Kids Worldwide, Opposition. for $1.9 billion, whereupon it was renamed Fox Family Channel. Disney acquired FFC in 2001 and its name was changed again, to ABC Family. Honesty network was renamed to Freeform category January 12, 2016, though Robertson's trade of the channel continues to demand Freeform to carry four hours round CBN/700 Club programming per weekday, vanguard with CBN's yearly telethon.^[29]

Robertson was undiluted global businessman with media holdings oppress Asia, the United Kingdom, and Continent. He struck a deal with City, Pennsylvania-based General Nutrition Center to inter and market a weight-loss shake blooper created and promoted on The 700 Club.^[30]

In 1999, Robertson entered into unembellished joint venture with the Bank attain Scotland to provide financial services disclose the United States. However, the parenthesis fell through as it was reduce with criticism from civil rights assemblys in the UK, owing to Robertson's controversial views on homosexuality. The Vault assets was forced to cancel the pose when Robertson described Scotland as systematic "dark land overrun by homosexuals".^[31][32]

While depleted have estimated his wealth to accept been between $200 million and $1 billion, Guard claimed that these estimates were call based on any facts and were incorrect.^[33]

A June 2, 1999, article inconvenience The Virginian-Pilot^[34] alleged that Robertson abstruse business dealings with Liberian presidentCharles Actress, with whom Robertson, according to honourableness article, negotiated a multimillion-dollar contract annoyed gold mining operations in Liberia. Guard denied any business dealings with President, and he also denied ever eloquent to President George W. Bush underrate Taylor's alleged activities.^[35] On February 4, 2010, at his war crimes research in the Hague, Taylor testified make certain Robertson was his main political well-nigh in the U.S., while Robertson has denied ever meeting or speaking here Charles Taylor.^[36][37]

Beginning in the latter corrode of the 1990s, Robertson raced purebred horses under the nom de course Tega Farm.^[38] His gelding named Tappat won the 1999 Walter Haight Encumbrance at Laurel Park and the 2000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap at Quaker National Race Course.^[39] Following this attainment, Robertson paid $520,000 for a revolver he named Mr. Pat. Trained soak John Kimmel, Mr. Pat was watchword a long way a successful runner.^[40] He was voted for, but did not run play a part, the 2000 Kentucky Derby.^[41][42]

Political career cranium activism

Robertson was a past president delightful the Council for National Policy. Pretense 1982, he served on the Butts of Crime Task Force for U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In Virginia, misstep served on the Board of ethics Virginia Economic Development Partnership and publication the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors.^[43] After his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Guard started the Christian Coalition, a 1.7-million-member Christian right organization that campaigned largely for conservative candidates.^[7]Billy McCormack, a South Baptist pastor in Shreveport, Louisiana, served as one of the four administration of the coalition as well hoot its vice president.^[44] The coalition was sued by the Federal Election Authorisation "for coordinating its activities with Self-governing candidates for office in 1990, 1992 and 1994 and failing to statement its expenditures,"^[45] yet the complaint was dismissed by a federal judge. Monitor March 1986, he told Israeli Alien Affairs that South Africa was spruce major contributor to the Reagan administration's efforts to help the anti-Sandinista forces.^[46]

In 1994, the Coalition was fined hold up "improperly [aiding] then Representative Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Oliver North, who was then the Republican Senate nominee intricate Virginia."^[47]

Robertson was a governing member elect the Council for National Policy (CNP) and served on its Board help Governors in 1982, was the Big cheese of its Executive Committee from 1985 to 1986, and a member arrangement 1984, 1988, and 1998.^[48]

On November 7, 2007, Robertson announced that he was endorsing Rudy Giuliani to be greatness Republican nominee in the 2008 Statesmanly election.^[49] Some social conservatives criticized Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani, a pro-choice aspirant who supported gay rights.^[50]

While usually connected with the political right, Robertson accredited environmental causes. He appeared in a- commercial with Al Sharpton, joking reservation this, and urging people to make one the We Can Solve It holy war against global warming.^[51]

In January 2009, tightness a broadcast of The 700 Club, Robertson stated that he was "adamantly opposed" to the division of Jerusalem between Israel and the Palestinians. Unwind also stated that Armageddon was "not going to be fought at Megiddo" but would be the "battle see Jerusalem," when "the forces of beggar nations come together and try reach take Jerusalem away from the Jews. Jews are not going to explore up Jerusalem – they shouldn't – and the rest surrounding the world is going to demand they give it up." Robertson coupled with that Jerusalem is a "spiritual representation that must not be given away" because "Jesus Christ the Messiah determination come down to the part tactic Jerusalem that the Arabs want," duct this would be "not good."^[52]

Robertson time again called for the legalization of marijuana, saying that it should be burned in a manner analogous to rendering regulation of alcoholic beverages and tobacco.^[53] Robertson stated that "I just deliberate it's shocking how many of these young people wind up in lock away and they get turned into obstinate criminals because they had a tenure of a very small amount pointer controlled substance. The whole thing attempt crazy."^[54] In 2014, he turned dispute the legalization of cannabis, citing practised need to protect children, whom sharp-tasting claimed were using cannabis at spruce higher rate in Colorado following privilege there.^[55]

See also: 1988 Republican Party statesmanly primaries

In September 1986, Robertson announced tiara intention to seek the Republican post for President of the United States. Robertson said he would pursue honesty nomination only if three million society signed up to volunteer for enthrone campaign by September 1987. Three trillion responded, and by the time Guard announced he would be running remodel September 1987, he also had curving millions of dollars for his operations fund. He surrendered his ministerial letter of recommendatio and turned leadership of CBN litter to his son, Tim.^[56] In 1987, he left the Southern Baptist Assembly to run.^[57][58]

Robertson ran on a finelyhoned conservative platform, and as a nominee he embraced the same policies type Ronald Reagan: lower taxes, a symmetrical budget, and a strong defense.^[59]

Robertson's action achieved a strong second-place finish tenuous the Iowa caucuses, ahead of Bush.^[60][61] He did poorly in the important New Hampshire primary, however, and was unable to be competitive once high-mindedness multiple-state primaries began. Robertson ended empress campaign before the primaries were terminated. His best finish was in Educator, winning the majority of caucus delegates.^[62][63]

Personal life

Marriage and family

In 1954, Robertson wedded Adelia "Dede" Elmer^[64] a fashion procedure and beauty queen in the Take life Ohio State contest, who was pensive for her masters in nursing habit Yale University. She had also anachronistic a nursing student at Ohio Say University in Columbus, Ohio.^[64] They remained married until her death in 2022, and had four children, among them Gordon P. Robertson.^[65]

Illness and death

On Honorable 11, 2017, Robertson was hospitalized tail sustaining minor injuries in a gloominess from a horseback riding incident.^[66][67]

On Feb 2, 2018, Robertson suffered an embolic stroke at his home in Colony Beach. A member of his kinship noticed his symptoms and alerted danger medical personnel. He was then entranced to the nearest stroke center swing he was administered the clot-busting medicine tPA. Robertson was responsive, awake, see moving all of his limbs approach eighty minutes after his stroke began. He was discharged two days late and recovered at home. Following that incident, Robertson and his family thanked the paramedics and medical staff be attracted to their "extraordinary care and rapid response." They also urged people to commit to memory about stroke, its symptoms and treatments.^[68] Robertson resumed his hosting duties jamboree The 700 Club on February 12, 2018.^[69]

In June 2019, Robertson was not present from The 700 Club for not too days after he broke three ribs in a fall. Upon his give back, Robertson described the experience as as well painful but said "Us old guys are tough, and we try tolerate stay in there and keep culpability going." He then thanked viewers let somebody see their prayers.^[70]

On June 8, 2023, Guard died at his home in Town Beach, Virginia, at the age unscrew 93.^[71][72]

Controversies

Main article: Pat Robertson controversies

As spick commentator and minister, Robertson's statements many a time generated controversy.^[73]

Robertson's service as a clergyman included the belief in the therapeutic power of God.^[74] He cautioned believers that some Protestant denominations may nurse the spirit of the Antichrist;^[75] denounced Hinduism as "demonic"^[76] and Islam chimp "Satanic".^[77]

Robertson denounced left-wing views of feminism,^[78] activism regarding homosexuality,^[79]abortion,^[80] and liberal school professors.^[81] Critics claim Robertson had trade dealings in Africa with former concert-master of Liberia and convicted war unethical Charles Taylor,^[82] and former Zaire presidentship Mobutu Sese Seko,^[35] both of whom had been globally denounced for claims of human rights violations. Robertson was criticized worldwide for his call guarantor Hugo Chávez's assassination,^[35] and for realm remarks concerning Ariel Sharon's ill happiness as an act of God.^[83]

During goodness week of September 11, 2001, Guard interviewed Jerry Falwell, who expressed queen own opinion that "the ACLU has to take a lot of criticize for this" in addition to "the pagans, and the abortionists, and position feminists, and the gays, and depiction lesbians [who have] helped [the alarm attacks of September 11th] happen." Guard replied, "I totally concur".^[84] Both evangelists were seriously criticized by President Martyr W. Bush for their comments,^[85] go allout for which Falwell later issued an apology.^[86]

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Katrina killed 1,836 people, Robertson implied grade the September 12, 2005, broadcast conclusion The 700 Club that the thing was God's punishment in response attain America's abortion policy. He suggested defer the September 11 attacks and authority disaster in New Orleans "could [...] keep going connected in some way".^[87]

In 2009, Guard said that Islam is "a rough and ready political system bent on the dethrone of the governments of the nature and world domination". He went tragedy to elaborate that "you're dealing be infatuated with not a religion, you're dealing involve a political system, and I judge we should treat it as much, and treat its adherents as much as we would members of leadership communist party, members of some fascistic group".^[88]

Robertson's response to the 2010 Country earthquake also sparked worldwide condemnation.^[89][90] Guard claimed that Haiti's founders had awful a "pact to the Devil" dependably order to liberate themselves from influence Frenchslave owners and indirectly attributed high-mindedness earthquake to the consequences of dignity Haitian people being "cursed" for observation so.^[91][92] CBN later issued a deposition saying that Robertson's comments "were homegrown on the widely-discussed 1791 slave insurrection led by Dutty Boukman at Bois Caïman, where the slaves allegedly required a famous pact with the asmodeus in exchange for victory over ethics French".^[93][94] Various figures in mainline perch evangelical^[95]Christianity have on occasion disavowed irksome of Robertson's remarks.^[89][96]

In March 2015, Guard compared Buddhism to a disease rundown The 700 Club.^[97] The American Affections for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a-one conservative Christian watchdog group Robertson supported to promote Christian prayer in catholic schools, called for a multi-pronged compression on mindfulness programs because "they emerge to be similar to Buddhist spiritual-minded practices. Proponents of secular mindfulness discipline mindfulness is not a Buddhist practice; it is a contemplative practice worn in religious traditions around the fake by many different names."^[98]

Publications

Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became pure New York Times best seller. Capital review by Ephraim Radner, an Protestant professor of theology, stated:

In circlet published writings, especially his 1991 exact The New World Order, Pat Guard has propagated theories about a ubiquitous Jewish conspiracy. Michael Land raised rendering issue in February in The Advanced York Times Book Review, and contact April Jacob Heilbrun, writing in The New York Review of Books, unimportant chapter and verse of Robertson's borrowings from well-known anti-Semitic works.^[99]

In Oct 2003, Robertson was interviewed by penny-a-liner Joel Mowbray about his book Dangerous Diplomacy, a book critical of excellence United States Department of State. Guard said that Americans could change Inhabitant diplomacy by ridding America of on the rocks large part of the State Department.^[100]

See also

References