Judge Jeffrey M. Rich has granted televangelist Benny Hinn’s second divorce from his wife, Suzanne, bringing to a close a legal chapter that began when Suzanne first filed for separation back in 2010.
The Hillsborough County court system officially recorded the judgment as a “Final Judgment Non-Contested Dissolution of Marriage” on November 24, signalling the end of an uncontested divorce proceeding. In such cases under Florida law, the petitioner needs only to assert to the court that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” without requiring proof of fault from either party.
The trajectory of Suzanne and Benny Hinn’s relationship spans decades. The couple originally married in 1979, when Benny was an itinerant evangelist and Suzanne’s father, Roy Harthern, served as pastor of Calvary Assembly of God, a prominent megachurch in Winter Park near Orlando. Benny Hinn later chronicled their meeting in his autobiography, “He Touched Me.”
After Suzanne filed for divorce in 2010, the pair reconciled and remarried in 2013 at Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Holy Land Experience theme park in Florida—a symbolic location for a couple whose lives have been intertwined with televangelist circles.
Significant Property at Issue
During their second marriage, the couple accumulated substantial real estate holdings valued at approximately $4.7 million. However, the property division process will be governed by Florida’s equitable distribution framework, which does not necessarily divide assets 50-50 but rather distributes marital property in what courts deem fair and equitable.
Notably, Benny Hinn’s Dana Point, California, beach residence, currently valued at $8.6 million according to Redfin, though appraised at nearly $10.9 million just over a year ago, is likely to remain outside the settlement. The property was acquired during the couple’s first marriage and, therefore, generally would not be considered marital property subject to division in the second divorce.
Benny Hinn’s evangelical empire has experienced considerable contraction in recent years. Once commanding nearly 400 employees at the height of its influence, Benny Hinn Ministries has faced diminishing fortunes, losing precious broadcast slots on major Christian networks Trinity Broadcasting Network and Daystar. The organisation’s struggles intensified following repeated exposés in the 1990s and early 2000s that scrutinised and challenged Hinn’s healing claims.
By 2020, the financial strain was evident: World Healing Centre Church, associated with Hinn’s ministry, obtained a Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loan specifically to retain just 25 employees—a stark contrast to the organisation’s former scale.
Despite these setbacks, Hinn has maintained international crusade activities. In 2024, he conducted a major crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by events this year in Kampala, Uganda and Harare, Zimbabwe. Following his Zimbabwe crusade, Hinn sent an email to supporters claiming that “millions gathered” across “fields that stretched across hundreds of acres” to hear his message.
Legal and Financial Context
The divorce comes as Benny Hinn’s net worth and property holdings have experienced notable declines, with real estate valuations dropping significantly compared to previous assessments. The Trinity Foundation, a Dallas-based organisation that has monitored televangelists for over three decades, has closely tracked Hinn’s financial activities and personal life, maintaining detailed records of his properties and ministry operations.
Under Florida’s no-fault divorce framework, neither party needs to establish wrongdoing to dissolve the marriage, a legal structure that streamlined the uncontested nature of this proceeding. With the judgment now finalised, the chapter closes on the Hinns’ second attempt at marriage, leaving unresolved questions about how their significant shared assets will ultimately be distributed.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
