In case anyone is interested, another megachurch in Atlanta took in $114,144,333.00 during the same year.
http://www.archatl.com/offices/2006_Finance_Annual_Report.pdf
But hey, some churches are more “mega” than others.
According to history... the basis of your reference was certainly found to be the first "shakedown artists".....and sometimes with deadly force.
Even so, I have a hard time accusing anyone dedicated to the ministry without having hard facts first. Some here are judging only by personal feelings, differing religious beliefs and misguided conjecture/hearsay.
Many evangelicals make a tremendous amount of money selling tapes, books and doing lectures... besides getting their alloted salary from the church. If they've invested well.....it grows. They do have more opportunity than the average pastor because appearing on television exposes them to a much greater audience.
Wait......I feel like I'm defending why it's better to have freedom of religion and the right to own one's personal property/prosperity in the U.S. ....as opposed to a gov't controlled entity/church which demands resources by force and puts a cap on the amount of income a pastor receices.... if "they" feel it's excessive. Silly me. :)