Bill Gothard is a preacher of Christianity in America. In this article, we discuss Bill Gothard net worth, early life, and his institute. Details about his personal life, such as his wife, children, family, siblings, and controversies are also mentioned.
William W. Gothard Jr., aka Bill Gothard, is an American Christian minister, speaker, and writer. Popular as the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, his reach is unlimited. Furthermore, Gothard has given seminars and lectures to many and preached the Bible. While he is a popular evangelist in the United States, he has had a fair share of controversies in his life. In this article, we will discuss the net worth of Bill Gothard and his career’s biggest hindrances.
Who is Bill Gothard?
The highly controversial figure, Bill Gothard, is very influential in the religious community. Raised in an extremely religious family, he dedicated his life to spreading Christianity. Many people are now on the path of god because of the teachings of Gothard. These people range from teenagers to adults. His conservative teachings included memorizing the Bible, large families, homeschooling, avoiding debt, familial patriarchy, the submission of wives to husbands, and modest attire.
What is the net worth of Bill Gothard?
Bill founded the Institute in Basic Life Principles in 1961. His massive empire faced many accusations till now. Meanwhile, Bill Gothard’s net worth is estimated to be over $3 million in 2024.
Early life
The Christian minister was born on November 2, 1934, in Hinsdale, Illinois, United States. In his teenage years, Bill grew concerned for people his age who were going on wrongful paths. He was raised by religious parents and completed his B.A. in biblical studies from Wheaton College in 1957. Then, he went on to pursue his M.A. in Christian education in 1961. He completed his Ph.D. in biblical studies at Louisiana Baptist University in 2004.
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Bill Gothard and IBLP
Gothard started an organization called Campus Teams in 1961. Its name was changed to Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts (IBYC) in 1974 and to Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) in 1989. In the meantime, he also founded a homeschooling program, called Advanced Training Institute in 1984.
The bio on his organization’s website states that Bill focused on “helping teenagers and their parents make wise choices.” It also states that he shared the principles of Christianity with “inner-city gangs in Chicago, church youth groups, high school clubs, youth camps, and families in crisis.”
He stepped down as the president of IBLP in 2014. But, what happened to Bill Gothard? Actually, his decision came after over 30 women accused the evangelist of sexual harassment. After an internal investigation, IBLM stated that no criminal activity took place. However, Gothard acted in an inappropriate manner. In a since-deleted statement, he admitted and apologized for “holding of hands, hugs, and touching of feet or hair with young ladies.”
He clarified that his intentions were never sexual but “crossed the boundaries of discretion…and violated a trust.”
Is Bill Gothard still alive?
Because of his minimal activity after some controversies, people have started wondering whether Bill Gothard is in jail. No, as he was not convicted of any crimes. So, the question arises where is Bill Gothard now? Several reports suggest that he now lives a peaceful and quiet life on Arlington Avenue in La Grange, Illinois.
Personal life
What is Bill Gothard’s age?
He was born on November 2, 1934. Thus, he is 89 years old as of May 2024.
Family and siblings
Born to William and Carmen Gothard, Bill is the third of their six children. His father worked as a manager at an engineering firm. When Bill was in 5th grade, he attended a Child Evangelism Fellowship Bible class. Following that, he became a Christian and started attending a fundamentalist church with his family. He has two older sisters and three younger siblings.
Wife and children
Despite preaching the importance of marriage and family, Bill Gothard has never been married. So, there is no information possible about Bill Gothard’s wife and children.
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Controversies
- Bill Gothard’s organization promoted “male superiority and female obedience.”
- Gothard’s brother, Steve Gothard, was accused of coercing women staff at IBLP to have sex with him.
- More than 30 women accused Bill Gothard of sexual harassment and child abuse in 2014.
- A convicted sex offender, Josh Duggar, lived at IBLP for some months after confessing to his parents that he had molested his sisters.
- In 2015 and 2016, about 10 women accused Gothard of sexual abuse, harassment, and rape.
Facts/Trivia
- As a teenager, he decided to dedicate his life to Christianity.
- He has written many books and gave lessons at many seminars and conferences.
- He was trolled for not following the ideologies that he preached, such as marriage and children.
- Gothard was also accused of misusing the Bible.
