Craig Groeschel Net Worth 2026: Life.Church Pastor’s Income, Books, and Business Ventures

Craig Groeschel (born December 2, 1967) is the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, one of the largest multi-site megachurches in the United States. His estimated net worth ranges between $5 million and $8.84 million, derived from pastoral compensation, book royalties, speaking engagements, and business ventures. Groeschel created the YouVersion Bible app—now exceeding 1 billion installs worldwide—and hosts one of the most popular leadership podcasts.

This article examines his financial success, pastoral career, and business ventures that built his wealth.

Craig Groeschel Net Worth Breakdown

Income Sources

As senior pastor of a church with 76,000 weekly attendees across 44 locations in 12 states, Groeschel receives executive-level compensation appropriate for managing a multi-million dollar organization.

Groeschel has authored more than 20 books, including several New York Times bestsellers:

• Winning the War in Your Mind (500,000+ copies sold)
• Dangerous Prayers
• Divine Direction
• Hope in the Dark
• The Christian Atheist
• Fight: Winning the Battles That Matter Most
• The Benefit of Doubt (released February 2025)
• #Struggles
• Weird
• Lead Like It Matters (updated version of It)

Groeschel speaks at major conferences, including Catalyst and the Global Leadership Summit, commanding fees for his appearances. Launched in 2016, the podcast reaches millions of listeners monthly and has become one of the most popular leadership podcasts. Episodes are released monthly with practical leadership insights.

His YouTube channel features sermon content, leadership teachings, and podcast episodes, generating revenue through platform monetization. Groeschel served on the Gulfport Energy Corporation board from 2016 to 2019. In June 2016, he received 3,824 equity shares valued at $125,006.56. In December 2017, he sold 7,059 shares for $85,837, according to SEC filings.

Pastoral Career

Early Ministry (1991–1995)

Craig Groeschel entered ministry in 1991, the same year he married Amy. He began as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City while pursuing his Master of Divinity degree from Phillips Theological Seminary (affiliated with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ).

During the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Groeschel was attending seminary classes in Enid, Oklahoma. His office at First United Methodist Church, located near the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, sustained damage from the explosion. He returned to contribute to crisis response efforts, supporting survivors and maintaining community services during the tragedy.

This experience shaped his approach to pastoral leadership during times of crisis.

Founding Life.Church (1996)

In January 1996, Craig and Amy Groeschel founded Life Covenant Church (now Life.Church) in a two-car garage in Edmond, Oklahoma. The inaugural service drew approximately 40 people despite a snowstorm.

The inspiration came from hearing Crystal Lewis sing “Come Just As You Are” at a conference. The Groeschels felt called to create a church where people could come without pretense and begin a relationship with God.

Before launching, Groeschel conducted market research with non-churchgoers to understand their perceptions of church experiences. He designed Life.Church based on these insights, applying his marketing degree from Oklahoma City University.

Church Growth and Multi-Site Expansion (1999–2001)

Life.Church grew rapidly. In 1999, the church built its first permanent facility (now the Oklahoma City Campus).

In 2001, MetroChurch, a 25-year-old nondenominational church in Edmond, merged with Life.Church, creating one of the first major multi-site church models in the United States. When his fourth child was born in 2001, Groeschel couldn’t attend the Sunday service. He delivered his sermon via video, discovering that congregants responded positively to this format. This led to the systematic use of video teaching across multiple locations.

Technology Pioneer (2006–2008)

In 2006, Life.Church launched its Internet Campus, broadcasting weekly interactive worship services online—years before the COVID-19 pandemic made virtual church mainstream.

Also in 2006, Groeschel created MySec ret.tv, a website where people could confess anonymously. On Easter Sunday 2007, Life.Church began broadcasting services in the Second Life virtual world, demonstrating early adoption of emerging platforms.

In 2008, when Apple announced the App Store, Bobby Gruenewald (Life.Church’s Innovation Leader) worked with Groeschel to create YouVersion, one of the first Bible apps available for iPhone.

Recognition and Awards

Life.Church was named America’s Most Innovative Church by Outreach Magazine in 2007 and 2008.

The church has been ranked among the largest churches in America:

• 2018: Third-largest megachurch with 30,000 weekly attendees
• 2024: 76,000 weekly attendees across 44 locations

Glassdoor named Life.Church is the #1 U.S. Best Place to Work in its category.

Current Leadership (2024–2026)

As of 2026, Groeschel continues as senior pastor, overseeing:

• 44 physical locations in 12 U.S. states
• 76,000 weekly attendees (2024 census)
• Church Online Platform serving millions globally
• Open.Life.Church: Free resources for churches worldwide (sermon materials, graphics, curriculum)

He speaks frequently at leadership conferences and maintains an active presence through his podcast and social media.

Business Ventures and Technology Innovations

YouVersion Bible App

YouVersion is Groeschel’s most significant technological contribution. The app has achieved:

• 1 billion+ device installs (reached November 2024)
• 800 million+ downloads as of late 2024
• 3,600+ Bible versions in 2,300+ languages
• 14 million daily users (2024 average)
• 11.2 million new installs monthly in 2024
• Record: 798,000 installations in a single day (January 5, 2025)
• 30,000+ Bible reading plans created by users and partners

Founded by Bobby Gruenewald in 2008 as one of the first iPhone apps, YouVersion operates as a free, donor-funded ministry. In 2023, approximately 240,000 donors contributed around $60 million to support operations. The app generates no revenue and provides all content free to users. Over 80% of downloads come from outside the United States, with significant growth in India, Africa, and Latin America.

Bible App Lite, launched in October 2022 for areas with device and data limitations, has been installed 55 million times and ranked #1 in Google Play Store in Kenya, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of Congo—surpassing TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

Bible App for Kids, developed with OneHope, offers interactive animations in 69 languages.

ChurchOnlinePlatform.com

Life.Church created ChurchOnlinePlatform.com, a free streaming tool that allows churches worldwide to broadcast services online. Thousands of churches use this platform, which proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Open.Life.Church

This initiative provides free resources to churches globally:

• Sermon series and transcripts
• Worship media and graphics
• Kids’ curriculum
• Church Metrics app for tracking attendance and growth
• Video series for children and teens (Switch, Loop)

All intellectual property that could be commercialized for millions is given away free, reflecting Groeschel’s “irrational generosity” philosophy.

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast

Launched in 2016, the podcast provides monthly leadership coaching in approximately 30 minutes per episode. It has become one of the most popular leadership podcasts globally, reaching millions of listeners across platforms including:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Amazon Music
• Google Podcasts

The podcast features interviews with leadership experts, CEOs, and thought leaders, covering topics like communication, team building, productivity, and personal growth.

Corporate Board Service

From 2016–2019, Groeschel served on the Board of Directors for Gulfport Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma-based oil and natural gas company.

Board compensation:

• June 2016: Grant of 3,824 equity shares valued at $125,006.56
• December 2017: Sold 7,059 shares for $85,837
• Resigned from the board: November 2019

This corporate experience provided additional income and business insights applicable to church leadership.

Business Philosophy

Groeschel combines business principles learned from his marketing degree with theological training. He applies corporate strategy to ministry growth, including:

• Market research to understand audiences
• Multi-site franchise model (“church in a box”)
• Technology adoption ahead of industry trends
• Data-driven decision making
• Professional organizational structure

This approach allowed Life.Church to scale efficiently while maintaining message consistency across locations.

Educational Background

Craig Groeschel was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he attended Ardmore High School.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Oklahoma City University (1990) on a tennis scholarship. During college, he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and started a Bible study group within the chapter.

He met his wife Amy at Oklahoma City University, and they married in 1991.

After beginning ministry as an associate pastor, Groeschel pursued theological education at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earning a Master of Divinity degree.

This combination of business education and theological training became foundational to his approach to church leadership.

Family Life

Craig and Amy Groeschel married in 1991 and have six children:

• Catie (married to Andrew)
• Mandy (married to James)
• Anna (married to Luke)
• Sam
• Stephen
• Joy

They also have seven grandchildren: Cole, McKenna, Spencer, Jace, Haylen, and two others.

The family lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, in a home valued at approximately $1.7 million. While this represents significant wealth, it remains modest compared to homes of business executives managing organizations of similar scale.

Several of their children have pursued ministry roles, while others have chosen different career paths.

Groeschel frequently uses family experiences in sermons and books to illustrate spiritual principles, maintaining transparency while preserving appropriate boundaries around private life.

Wealth and Ministry Philosophy

Groeschel addresses potential criticism of pastoral wealth by emphasizing generosity:

Life.Church gives away all intellectual property that could be commercialized:

• Sermon materials worth millions
• Software platforms (ChurchOnlinePlatform.com)
• Graphics and media
• Curriculum and training materials
• YouVersion Bible app

YouVersion operates entirely on donations, serving as a free resource globally. Church Metrics and other tools are provided free to help churches grow without financial barriers.

This “irrational generosity” model allows Groeschel to reconcile personal wealth with ministry values, demonstrating that financial success can coexist with charitable giving.

FAQs

What is Craig Groeschel’s net worth in 2026?

Craig Groeschel’s net worth is estimated between $5 million and $8.84 million, based on publicly available financial information. This includes his pastoral salary, book royalties, speaking fees, YouTube revenue, and past corporate board compensation.

How did Craig Groeschel start Life.Church?

Groeschel and his wife Amy founded Life.Church (originally Life Covenant Church) in a two-car garage in January 1996 with approximately 40 people. They were inspired after hearing “Come Just As You Are” at a conference. Groeschel conducted market research with non-churchgoers before launching the church.

How many downloads does YouVersion have?

YouVersion has surpassed 1 billion device installs as of November 2024. The app averages 14 million daily users and 11.2 million new installs monthly. It offers 3,600+ Bible versions in 2,300+ languages and is completely free.

What is Life.Church’s size?

Life.Church has 44 physical locations across 12 U.S. states with 76,000 weekly attendees (2024 census). It ranks among the largest churches in America and operates Church Online, reaching millions more globally.

When did Craig Groeschel start his leadership podcast?

The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast launched in 2016. It releases monthly episodes providing practical leadership insights and has become one of the most popular leadership podcasts globally.

Did Craig Groeschel work in corporate business?

Yes. Groeschel served on the Board of Directors for Gulfport Energy Corporation (2016–2019), an Oklahoma-based oil and natural gas company. He received equity compensation and resigned from the board in November 2019.