Education: M.G. ‘PAT’ ROBERTSON

Outside of Virginia, Robertson is best known for his decades-long tenure hosting the Christian Broadcast Network’s syndicated news magazine show “The 700 Club,” as well as his provocative pronouncements about LGBTQ people, Muslims and Democrats.

But the 92-year-old CBN founder is also known as the head of Regent University, a private Christian institution he founded in 1977 as CBN University. It has produced notable conservative alumni such as former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, now dean of its government school.

Robertson’s ties to the Republican Party are strong (he made a 1988 bid for the GOP nomination). Despite having supported Donald Trump’s presidency, Robertson urged Trump to accept the 2020 election results at a time when others in his party did not.

In October 2021, during the 700 Club’s 60th anniversary show, Robertson announced he was stepping down as daily host, ceding the duty to son Gordon Robertson. The younger Robertson also succeeded his father as CBN’s president and CEO in 2007.

WHAT MAKES ME PASSIONATE ABOUT MY WORK: I am passionate because I see unlimited opportunities for the organizations that I have founded.