Unification Church Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon Dead At 92

Author and Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard once wrote “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion.” You know what’s cooler than $1 million — $1 billion, and that’s only part of what Unification church founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon managed to make before passing away last month at the age of 92.

Located in South Korea, the founder of the Unification Church managed to turn his religious views into a multibillion-dollar business empire that is known all throughout his country and many other parts of the world.

Moon was suffering through a bout of pneumonia at the time of his death. The reverend died near his home in a hospital owned by his church.

Sun Myung Moon began his Unification Church in the 1970s and rose to fame when he hosted thousands of followers as part of his mass weddings ceremonies. The church, however, was not well liked by many outsiders who claim it demands “cult-like” devotion from its followers. In many of the weddings he performed en masse, Moon and his staff were personally responsible for playing matchmaker to ensure the churches followers remained a part of the organization after marriage.

The Unification Church was definitely not shy in its business dealings, which were bountiful, operating newspapers, schools, a ski resort, car maker, hotel (in North Korea), and dozens of other companies in different parts of the world.