#18: Eddie Long
$5 Million Fortune
Eddie Long, who served as senior pastor of Georgia’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church from 1987 to 2017, experienced remarkable growth, expanding the congregation from 300 to over 25,000 members during his tenure. However, Long’s success was marred by allegations of financial misconduct and multiple sexual assault accusations, which cast a shadow over his leadership.

Despite his significant influence within the church community, these scandals tarnished his reputation and led to widespread scrutiny. Long’s legacy remains a complex one, reflecting both his achievements in building a large congregation and the controversies that ultimately engulfed his pastoral career.