Mike Bickle Net worth 2025

Michael L. “Mike” Bickle (born July 17, 1955) is an American evangelical Christian leader best known for founding the International House of Prayer (IHOPKC) in Kansas City, Missouri. Bickle grew up in Kansas City and became a born-again Christian at age 15 during a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event. Early in his ministry he pastored Metro Christian Fellowship in St. Louis, but in 1999 he left that church to launch what became IHOPKC. IHOPKC is famed for its 24/7 worship and prayer services, operating continuously around the clock since its inception.

Ministry and Career: Bickle’s vision for IHOPKC combined charismatic worship with Biblical teaching. He opened a Bible college (IHOPU) and internship program to train young adults, focusing on fasting, prayer and prophetic ministry. At its peak, IHOPKC included over 2,500 full-time staff, students and interns living on campus. From 1999 through the 2000s, Bickle also organized an annual youth conference called “Onething.” These conferences drew large crowds (up to ~25,000 attendees in 2010) focused on worship music and Bible teaching, especially on topics like prayer and end-times prophecy. Under Bickle’s leadership IHOPKC grew into a global prayer movement, inspiring offshoots and affiliate prayer rooms in other cities.

Theology and Influence: Theologically, Bickle is associated with the charismatic wing of evangelicalism and has been a prominent proponent of “prophetic worship.” He emphasized themes like the “Beauty of Jesus” and the church as the bride of Christ. Over the years he published numerous books and manuals (e.g. “Growing in the Prophetic”, “When Heaven Invades Earth”, etc.) on prayer, worship and prophetic ministry. He traveled widely, speaking at conferences around the world. One profile notes he “traveled throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Far East” to discuss topics such as medical missions, media, and Haiti’s future (reflecting his interest in global ministry issues). Bickle also engaged in politics occasionally: for example, he publicly endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for U.S. president in 2016.

Income Sources: Bickle’s income has come from several sources typical for a high-profile ministry leader:

• Books and Publications: He authored or co-authored over a dozen books on Christian living and prayer. Sales of books, CDs and other teaching materials (often sold through the IHOPKC website and conferences) would generate royalties.
  
• Speaking Engagements: As a known Christian teacher, Bickle was invited to preach or teach in other churches and events. Some of these appearances are paid (speaker fees), although conservative ministries often donate honoraria to the ministry.
  
• Ministry Salary: IHOPKC is a non-profit organization. As founder and leader, Bickle likely received a salary from the ministry budget (though official IHOPKC financials are not public).
  
• Endorsements and Partnerships: He had alliances with other ministries (e.g. far-flung prayer rooms affiliated with IHOPKC), and gave training seminars, which may have included honoraria or stipends.
  
• Other Ventures: Over the years Bickle and close associates launched related organizations (like the International House of Prayer in various countries) and media products (worship albums under IHOPKC). These activities could provide ancillary income streams.
  

Social and Online Presence: Bickle maintained a significant public profile. He has an active Instagram account (@mikebickle) with about 74,000 followers, and his messages and worship videos were widely shared online. He co-hosted IHOPKC webcasts (prayer room broadcasts) 24/7. Additionally, he occasionally appeared on Christian television or podcasts, and IHOPKC produced a monthly magazine and radio program. Bickle’s personal presence was largely tied to IHOPKC events and the Onething conferences, where he spoke annually through 2018.

Controversies and Major Events: In recent years Bickle’s reputation was rocked by serious allegations. November 2023: IHOPKC’s leadership announced that Mike Bickle would “step away from public ministry” while an independent law firm examined multiple allegations of sexual misconduct spanning decades. The IHOPKC statement said there were “several allegations,” including one dating back 26 years that was considered credible. It noted other claims were hard to verify and some women mentioned in reports had publicly denied being victims. In response, Bickle agreed not to preach, visit the prayer room, or engage in social media ministry during the investigation.

By December 2023 the situation culminated in IHOPKC officially cutting ties with Bickle. Reports indicate he confessed to some misconduct and under pressure from board members was removed as leader. (Notably, one independent news outlet later reported 17 abuse allegations against him, but the details remain legally sensitive.) These developments have been widely reported in Christian news media, and IHOPKC stressed its commitment to an impartial investigation. Aside from these recent events, Bickle’s tenure at IHOPKC was relatively controversy-free to the outside world, although his prophetic teachings had occasionally drawn theological criticism from some quarters.

Net Worth (2025): Exact financial details for Bickle are not publicly disclosed. He is not known to be a “rich megachurch pastor” in the way some Evangelical leaders are. Several net-worth blogs estimate his personal wealth in the millions, but likely on the lower end. For example, one profile suggests a net worth around $5 million as of 2023, attributing it mainly to his book sales, speaking fees, and salary from IHOPKC. These figures are unofficial estimates. Given IHOPKC’s non-profit status, Bickle’s wealth probably comes mostly from decades of secondary income (books, media, etc.), rather than personal business ownership. Absent any verifiable source, a cautious estimate would be several million dollars – modest compared to megachurch heads, but substantial for a ministry leader. Some projections (again from unofficial sites) have even speculated his net worth could grow to $7–10 million by 2030 if trends continued.

Public Statements: Mike Bickle was known more for his sermons than for pithy soundbites. He frequently emphasized prayer and worship in his messages. One example of his public statements was urging Christians to pursue the “first commandment” of loving God passionately, a recurring theme in his ministry materials. He also often spoke about unity between Jewish and Christian communities, saying Christians should pray for Israel’s people in line with God’s purposes. In his official communications after the 2023 allegations, IHOPKC posted a joint statement (credited to “the Executive Leadership Team and Mike Bickle”) explaining the situation and asking for the community’s prayers. That January 2025 statement underlines his humility, stating he will cooperate fully with an impartial inquiry and stepping aside “in the best interest of the organization”.

Media Appearances: Over four decades, Bickle’s main public “platform” was IHOPKC itself. He frequently appeared on the IHOP webcast, on-stage at conventions, and in recordings of the Onething conferences. He also participated in a handful of external events (e.g., he and other charismatic leaders were featured in documentary interviews about the prayer movement). In print and web media, his name often appears in Christian magazine articles on prayer movements (especially in the 2000s-2010s). Notably, until late 2023 he was a respected figure whose media coverage was positive. Since the abuse allegations, major Christian news outlets have reported on the investigation and IHOPKC’s response.

In summary, Mike Bickle is a veteran Christian leader whose career centered on 24/7 prayer ministry and charismatic teachings. He gained a significant following through IHOPKC’s global prayer movement. Financially, he has earned from books and speaking, but did not amass vast personal wealth like some pastors. In late 2023, Bickle’s ministry came under the cloud of serious misconduct allegations; he has since been removed from leadership while an investigation proceeds. His future role remains uncertain, but his historical impact on the American charismatic movement is widely acknowledged.