Edir Macedo

Edir Macedo is a Brazilian evangelical bishop, theologian, writer, and billionaire businessman. He is best known as the founder of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, operating in over 100 countries. Beyond his religious leadership, Macedo owns and chairs Record, Brazil's second-largest broadcasting company, a position he has held since acquiring the network in 1989. His influence spans both spiritual and media realms, making him one of the most powerful figures in Brazilian evangelicalism.

As of 2026, Macedo remains active as the leader of the UCKG and chairman of Record TV. His written works on faith and prosperity theology have reached millions of readers, and his church continues to expand globally. Forbes lists him and his family with a net worth of approximately $2.4 billion, reflecting his entrepreneurial acumen. His public persona is polarizing: to followers, he is a prophet and spiritual guide; to critics, a controversial figure associated with prosperity theology and financial scrutiny. [edit]

Edir Macedo was born on February 18, 1945, in Rio das Flores, a small municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He grew up in a Catholic family, but a conversion to Pentecostalism in his youth set the course for his life. Before founding his own church, Macedo worked as a civil servant in the state lottery administration, a job that offered stability but not fulfillment.

His religious journey began in the 1960s when he became involved with Pentecostal churches and was eventually ordained as a pastor. The turning point came on July 9, 1977, when he founded the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God in a former funeral parlor in Rio de Janeiro. That modest start would grow into a global movement, but at the time, it was a leap of faith that would define his legacy. [edit]

Macedo's career is defined by two parallel tracks: religious leadership and media entrepreneurship. After founding the UCKG in 1977, he expanded the church rapidly, and by the 1980s, he had begun acquiring radio stations. In 1989, he acquired Record TV, transforming it from a struggling network into Brazil's second-largest broadcaster, a major competitor to Globo. Under his leadership, Record has become a significant force in Brazilian media.

Macedo has also authored numerous books on faith and prosperity theology, with his written works reaching millions of readers. His business empire extends beyond media to include Banco Digimais, a bank he controlled. In the 2020s, he continued to lead both the church and Record, while facing legal scrutiny over the bank. In September 2025, he sold a luxury condo in the Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, for $13 million. In April 2026, BTG Pactual signed an agreement to acquire Digimais, though the deal was pending as of June 2026, when Brazil's Federal Police launched an operation targeting alleged financial fraud at the bank, freezing $125 million in assets. [edit]

Macedo is a highly polarizing figure in Brazil. To his followers, he is a spiritual leader and prophet who has built a global religious movement. To critics, he is a controversial figure associated with prosperity theology and accusations of financial impropriety. His media portrayal ranges from reverential coverage in church-affiliated outlets to critical investigative journalism. His content, delivered through books, sermons, and Record TV programming, focuses on faith, prosperity, and spiritual warfare. His social media voice is pastoral and inspirational, sharing biblical teachings and motivational messages. Church members are typically referred to as 'Universal members' or 'members of the Universal Church.' [edit]

Edir Macedo's following is as vast as it is organized, but it doesn't fit the usual mold of fandom. His supporters are primarily the faithful of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, who call themselves members or believers rather than by any catchy fan-club name. There is no formal fandom designation, no equivalent of a 'Belieber' or 'ARMY', and the community's energy flows through church channels: worship services, prayer groups, and the institutional reach of Record TV, which he has chaired since 1989. His official YouTube channel and Instagram account (with over 8,300 followers) serve as direct lines to his audience, though his social media footprint is modest compared to his broadcast empire.

In the realm of global fame, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Edir Macedo but has not placed him in its published rankings, neither the Global Top 1,000 nor any Top-100 scope list. This means that, as of August 2026, he holds no official rank, a status that reflects the specialized nature of his renown: immense within Brazilian evangelicalism and media, yet less universally tracked than that of pop-culture figures. Even without a numeric placement, his influence is undeniable, his sermons, books, and television programming have shaped the spiritual and media landscape of Brazil for decades, and his name is a lightning rod in discussions of religion, wealth, and power.[edit]

Macedo founded the UCKG in a former funeral parlor, a detail that often surprises people. He worked as a civil servant in the state lottery administration before his religious career. His church operates in over 100 countries, a reflection of its global reach. He sold a Florida condo in the Porsche Design Tower for $13 million in September 2025, after reducing the price by almost $2 million. His bank, Banco Digimais, was targeted in a police operation in June 2026 with $125 million in assets frozen.

Among the legends that surround him, the 1992 kick incident stands out: during a televised service, he kicked a statue of Nossa Senhora Aparecida, Brazil's patron saint, a moment captured on video that ignited national outrage and remains a defining controversy. That same year, he was arrested and spent 11 days in jail on charges of charlatanism, fraud, and quackery, charges later dismissed by the Supreme Court, a saga his followers recount as persecution and vindication. More recently, the 2026 police raids on Digimais added a new chapter, with reports of BTG Pactual acquiring the bank amid the scandal.[edit]

Edir Macedo is married to Ester Bezerra-Macedo, who has been his partner in ministry for decades. She has been a prominent figure in the UCKG alongside her husband. The couple has children, though specific details about them are not widely documented in public sources. Family members hold key positions in the church and Record TV, reflecting the family's deep involvement in his business and religious empire. [edit]

Edir Macedo is closely associated with his wife, Ester Bezerra-Macedo, who has been his partner in ministry and life. His family members are involved in the operations of the UCKG and Record TV. In business, he has been connected to BTG Pactual, the investment bank that signed an agreement to acquire his bank, Digimais. [edit]

Public information about Edir Macedo's romantic relationships is extremely limited, reflecting his status as a religious leader who has maintained a private personal life. The only documented relationship is his marriage to Ester Bezerra-Macedo. The couple has been married for several decades, and Ester has been publicly recognized as his spouse throughout his career. She has been a constant presence in his life and ministry, serving alongside him in the UCKG. Specific details about how they met, their wedding date, and their children are not widely documented in public sources.

As of 2026, Macedo remains married to Ester Bezerra-Macedo. There is no public information suggesting separation, divorce, or any other romantic relationships. [edit]

iFANN's editorial analysis currently estimates Edir Macedo's net worth at $2.4 billion, a figure that encompasses the assets of his family as well as his own. The primary sources of this fortune are Record TV, Brazil's second-largest broadcaster, which he has owned since 1989, and the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which operates in over 100 countries and generates revenue through tithes and donations. Additional income streams include Banco Digimais, a bank he controlled, which was the subject of a police investigation in June 2026 and was being acquired by BTG Pactual as of 2026. He has also earned from book sales and real estate, including the sale of a luxury condo in the Porsche Design Tower for $13 million in September 2025. Over the years, his net worth has grown steadily, driven by the expansion of his media and religious enterprises.[edit]