"Pastor's Sneakers Cost 6.31 Million Won"…Luxury-Wearing American Religious Figures Exposed on SNS

"How Do Pastors Wear Luxury Brands Every Week?" Question Raised

Pastor Juda Smith wearing a Gucci jacket. Photo by Ben Kirby, captured from SNS.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An Instagram account exposing the lavish lifestyles of some famous American religious figures is gaining attention.

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 22nd (local time), Ben Kirby (31), who resides in Dallas, USA, operates the Instagram account.

He revealed that he became curious about how such a lifestyle was possible after seeing a pastor who sings hymns wearing sneakers priced at the equivalent of his monthly rent.

He also discovered that popular American preacher Steven Furtick appears almost every week wearing new designer outfits.

Since 2019, Kirby has been posting on social media to inform people about what these individuals wear and use.

The posts typically show close-ups of pastors' feet wearing expensive shoes along with the prices.

Kirby's posts gained popularity, and within about a month of the account's creation, over 100,000 people followed it. Now, it has over 240,000 followers.

T.D. Jakes, a pastor in the Dallas area, was spotted carrying a Christian Louboutin bag worth $1,250 (about 1.41 million KRW), and Guillermo Maldonado, a pastor in Miami, was seen wearing a crocodile leather belt worth $2,541 (about 2.86 million KRW).

Pastor T.D. Jakes is wearing a Christian Louboutin bag around his waist. Photo by Ben Kirby, captured from SNS.

Paula White, a pastor whom former President Donald Trump trusts the most, wore Stella McCartney sneakers worth $785 (about 890,000 KRW).

Juda Smith, a pastor who is also acquainted with singer Justin Bieber, wore a Gucci jacket worth $3,600 (about 4.06 million KRW) and pants worth $980 (about 1.1 million KRW).

Kirby explained that recently, the number of clergy wearing high-priced sneakers has increased.

The Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red model worn by Pastor John Gray has a resale price of about $5,600 (about 6.31 million KRW) per pair.

Pastor John Gray is wearing the Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red model. The price for a used pair is $5,600 (6.31 million KRW). Photo by Ben Kirby, SNS capture.

Kirby plans to compile these cases into a book titled "Pastors and Sneakers."

Locally, Kirby's posts are gaining popularity as they pique public curiosity.

However, there are criticisms such as "Is it appropriate to enjoy luxury with enormous income that believers cannot even dream of, by selling the gospel?"

In response, Kirby recalled a past memory of confusion when he saw a senior pastor riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that cost more than a year's tithes paid by his parents.

Kirby concluded, "Successful ministry and thriving business are separated by a fine line."

He argued, "Some pastors have their own private entrances, exclusive parking spaces, and secretaries, and tell believers that God's blessing will follow as much as they are faithful to the church. I'm not saying pastors should give up fashion or star quality, but they need to be much more transparent and responsible than now."

Famous clergy often receive expensive shoes or clothes as gifts from believers, but this is not the only source that allows them to enjoy luxury.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated the average annual salary of clergy in 2019 to be $53,180 (about 60 million KRW).

The income of famous pastors is said to be much higher than this. This is because they generate additional income beyond honorariums through book and album sales.

Some pastors make money by selling 'goods' (souvenirs). Socks labeled "Jesus Walks" sell for $50, and shirts engraved with "Holy Spirit" sell for $225.

WP reported that they asked several pastors featured on Kirby's Instagram for their positions, but no one responded.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.