Arlin Horton Net Worth 2026: Pensacola Christian College Founder
No reputable outlet has published a net worth for Dr. Arlin Horton. With his first wife, Beka, he founded Pensacola Christian School in 1954, the Abeka curriculum publisher and Pensacola Christian College in 1974, and served as the college's president until 2012.
- Full name
- Arlin R. Horton
- Profession
- Co-founder and president emeritus of Pensacola Christian College
- Nationality
- American
- Spouse
- Wilma Horton (m. 2021); Beka Horton (d. 2020)
- Relationship
- Married
- Children
- 0
- Source of wealth
- Salary as college president (nonprofit ministries)
In this article
No reputable publication has estimated Arlin Horton's net worth, and the $13 million figure that appeared here before had no source, so it has been removed. Dr. Arlin Horton is the co-founder and president emeritus of Pensacola Christian College (PCC) in Florida. With his first wife, Beka Horton, he built a network of Christian education ministries starting in 1952, including Pensacola Christian Academy, the Abeka textbook publisher and the college, which he led for 38 years until he retired in 2012, according to PCC. These are nonprofit ministries, not companies he owns shares in, which is one reason no meaningful net worth figure exists.
What is Arlin Horton's net worth?
Pensacola Christian College and its affiliated ministries are religious nonprofits. They are not owned by the Hortons the way a private company is owned, and their earnings do not pay out to founders. Horton's personal income would have come from his salary as president, and he has not disclosed it; no reputable outlet has reported it. The earlier version of this page listed a salary of $500,000 a year, which had no source and has been removed.
What the Hortons built
In his 2012 retirement announcement, Horton gave a history of the ministries he and Beka started in Pensacola:
| Year | Ministry | Scale (as stated in 2012) |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Arrived in Pensacola to start a children's ministry | Answered a "Christian Worker Wanted" ad |
| 1953 | Camp o' the Pines | More than 37,000 children had attended |
| 1954 | Pensacola Christian School (now Academy) | Began with 35 students; over 2,000 a year since 1970 |
| 1969 | Educator clinics | About 93,000 principals and teachers trained in Pensacola |
| 1971 | WPCS radio, later Rejoice Broadcast Network | 39 satellite stations |
| 1972–1973 | A Beka Book (now Abeka) | Used by 10,288 Christian schools and daycares and 105,000+ homeschoolers |
| 1974 | Pensacola Christian College | Began with 100 students; over 3,800 enrolled in 2011 |
Horton said a wealthy man from Chicago, introduced by an administrator named Buzz Baker, paid to print the first books, and that Baker named the publisher after Beka because she led the work. Christianity Today reported that the Hortons started the college after Bob Jones III rejected their concerns that Bob Jones University had drifted toward secular teaching approaches, and that PCC now has about 4,000 students and gained accreditation in 2013.
Read Article: Ariella Iorio Net Worth
Early life and education
Horton met Beka Hall when both were students at Bob Jones University in South Carolina, training to be teachers. They married in their junior year and graduated in 1951, Christianity Today reported. PCC says he paid for college by waiting tables in the dining hall through a student work program, which inspired PCC's own work program for students. The earlier version of this page said he went to seminary, earned a master's degree and was pastor of a large church in Texas; we found no support for any of that and have removed it.
Arlin Horton's wives
Horton was married to Rebekah "Beka" Horton for about 70 years. She co-founded all of their ministries and gave her name to Abeka. She died on June 27, 2020, at 90, the Pensacola News Journal and Christianity Today reported. The couple did not have children; Horton said in 2012 that they had hoped for a large family.
In a 2023 profile, PCC reported that Horton cared for Beka as her health declined, and that in April 2021 he met Wilma Pierce, a former educator whose husband of 62 years had died in 2017. They married privately on July 14, 2021, and have since attended events on campus, including PCC's 50th school year.
Retirement
Horton announced his retirement on February 7, 2012, effective May 10, 2012, ending 38 years as president of the college and 58 years at the academy. He holds the title president emeritus. In the 2023 profile he credited God's blessing, dedicated staff and a Christian philosophy of education for PCC's growth.
Criticism of the curriculum
The Hortons' approach to education, with strict discipline, rote learning and King James Bible memorization, has critics. Christianity Today noted that education experts have criticized Abeka science books for teaching young-earth creationism and its history texts for downplaying slavery, while Abeka and its customers say the materials teach the worldview they want.
Age, height and weight
Horton graduated from college in 1951, which places his birth around 1930, not the age of 66 shown on the old page. His exact date of birth, height and weight have not been published by a reliable source, so those details have been removed.
See Also: Brannon Howse Net Worth
Why there is no reliable estimate
The institutions Horton founded are large, but they are nonprofits he does not own. His personal finances, including salary and retirement benefits, have not been reported, so a net worth figure would be a guess.
Frequently asked questions
What is Arlin Horton's net worth?
No reputable outlet has published an estimate of Arlin Horton's net worth. He co-founded Pensacola Christian College and Abeka, but they are religious nonprofits he does not own, and his salary as president was never disclosed.
Who founded Pensacola Christian College?
Pensacola Christian College was founded in 1974 by Arlin and Beka Horton, who had arrived in Pensacola in 1952. It started with 100 students; Arlin Horton served as president for 38 years until retiring in 2012.
Who is Arlin Horton's wife?
Arlin Horton married Wilma Pierce, a former educator and widow, on July 14, 2021, according to PCC. His first wife, Beka Horton, co-founder of PCC and Abeka, died on June 27, 2020, at age 90.
Did Arlin and Beka Horton have children?
No. Arlin and Beka Horton did not have children. In his 2012 retirement announcement Horton said they had expected a large family but instead devoted their time to their ministries, which focused heavily on children and education.
Where did Arlin Horton go to college?
Arlin Horton attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina, where he met Beka Hall. Both trained as teachers, married during their junior year, and graduated in 1951. He paid his way by waiting tables in the dining hall.
When did Arlin Horton retire?
Arlin Horton announced his retirement on February 7, 2012, effective May 10, 2012, after 38 years as president of Pensacola Christian College. He is now president emeritus.
Sources
- Pensacola Christian College: https://news.pcci.edu/campus-life/president-horton-announces-retirement/
- Pensacola Christian College: https://news.pcci.edu/spotlights/dr-arlin-horton-a-willing-servant/
- Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2020/07/beka-horton-died-abeka-pensacola-homeschool-curriculum/
- Pensacola News Journal: https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/07/01/pcc-co-founder-beka-horton-passes-away-90/5348432002/
