There are dozens of rich people in the Bible. Not all are evil or doing bad things. Some did awesome things for God. Others did awful things. The Bible is an equal opportunity book. It exposes the bad things no matter if you’re a pauper or a prince.
Here are fifteen rich people in the Bible.
Let’s get to it.
Rich People In The Bible — Genesis
Abram
Genesis 13:2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
Abram was loaded. We don’t really know how his money was acquired. The blessing of God was pronounced upon him in Genesis twelve. By the thirteenth chapter, he’s stacked.
Isaac
Genesis 26:12-14 Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred times as much. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household so that the Philistines envied him.
The blessing of Abraham followed Isaac. He had to make some tough decisions, though. He riches were so vast that his gentile neighbors envied him.
Jacob/Israel
Genesis 30:43 So the man became exceedingly prosperous and had large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
The blessing continued into the life of Jacob. He pulled off some miraculous things when working for Laban.
God worked through Jacob in spite of his apparent character flaws.
Poor As Job’s Turkey And Others
Job
Job 1:3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
This man had a tough life. Yes, in the end, all of his earthly creature comforts were restored by double. He still had to ensure the death of his children.
That’s not a trade I am willing to make.
Job 42:10 is one of the most misused verses in the Bible (link to a prior article).
Jabez
I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Jabez has taken some abuse from modern Christians. His story is legitimate. He asked God for blessing and territory enlargement.
The answer was “Yes!”
Rich People In The Bible — Kings
King David
I Chronicles 22:14 Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for they are in great quantity; I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to that.
I Chronicles 29:28 Then he died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in his place.
David was quite wealthy. He wanted to build a temple for God. God told him that would be Solomon’s responsibility. David provided the majority of the funding.
King Solomon
2 Chronicles 9:20 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s day.
I Kings 10:7 But I did not believe the stories until I came and my own eyes saw it all. And behold, half of it was not reported to me. You have exceeded in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.
Solomon’s net worth is estimated by some to be greater than $1 trillion!
King Hezekiah
2 Chronicles 32:27-28 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable articles, also storehouses for the produce of grain, wine, and oil; stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds for the flocks.
Hezekiah, like previous kings, did quite well financially. He was proud and braggadocious about the blessing of God.
It cost him dearly.
Rich People In The Bible — The Gospels
Joseph of Arimathea
Mark 15:46 Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been cut out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
The rich guy is the one who requested the body of Jesus. He also buried Him in his own tomb. Joseph was instrumental in fulfilling the messianic prophecy from Isaiah.
Zaccheus
Luke 19:2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
Zacheus immediately followed Jesus and became super generous. His life up to this point was awful. However, once his life was submitted to Christ he was all in!
Roman Centurion
Luke 7:4-5 When they came to Jesus, they strongly urged Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”
A Roman centurion who participated in the building of a local synagogue.
Amazing.
Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 19:22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving because he had many possessions.
This is a terrible example of loving money more than God. Jesus poked the idol in his life — money. He was unwilling to release the idol and he went away sad.
Rich People In The Bible — The Acts of the Apostles
Cornelius
Acts 10:4 And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Imagine an angel stopping by because of your prayers and generosity. Not too shabby.
Acts 16:14 A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God.
Lydia was a business owner selling royal fabrics. Her clientele would have been the wealthiest of the wealthy. Furthermore, the church in Philippi first met in her home.
Barnabas
Acts 4:36-37 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
This act of kindness could quite possibly have been the downfall of our next couple. Barnabas sold some land and brought it to the apostles to help further the gospel.
Innocent enough but others appeared to be jealous.
Ananias & Sapphira
Acts 5:1-2 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the proceeds for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
This couple sold land as well. However, they lied about the sale price. They wanted everyone to believe that they were giving the full amount. This was a costly lie.
Rich People In The Bible
It’s important that we all keep a proper perspective on money. There are dozens of warnings — take them seriously.
However, it’s also important that we are not afraid of money.
We should be denying ourselves daily. So long as we stay committed and submitted to the Lordship of Christ we should be on the correct path.