Larry Burkett (1939-2003) was an American figure known for his Christian perspective on financial counseling and his extensive work in broadcasting and publishing. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and working in the aerospace industry, Burkett experienced a significant religious conversion in 1972. This led him to dedicate his career to teaching biblical principles of money management.

He founded Christian Financial Concepts (CFC) in 1976, which later merged to become Crown Financial Ministries. Burkett hosted radio programs like "Money Matters" and authored over 70 books, selling millions of copies. His work often addressed economic concerns from a faith-based viewpoint, including predictions about future financial instability. He also co-founded the Alliance Defense Fund and the National Christian Foundation.

Born in 1939, Larry Burkett's early life included service in the U.S. Air Force and a career in the space program at Cape Canaveral, where he held a leadership role in an experimental test facility supporting the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. During his time at the space center, he pursued higher education, earning degrees in marketing and finance. In 1970, he transitioned to the electronics industry as a vice president. A pivotal moment in his life occurred in 1972 when he became an evangelical Christian, profoundly influencing his subsequent career path.

Following his conversion, Burkett joined Campus Crusade for Christ in 1973, focusing on financial counseling and studying biblical teachings on money. This led him to establish Christian Financial Concepts (CFC) in 1976, a nonprofit organization committed to disseminating these principles. CFC eventually merged with Crown Ministries to form Crown Financial Ministries in 2000, with Burkett serving as chairman until his passing. He also played a role in co-founding the Alliance Defense Fund and the National Christian Foundation, underscoring his engagement in Christian advocacy and philanthropy.

Burkett was a prolific author, publishing over 70 books that have sold more than 11 million copies, including several national bestsellers. He also reached a wide audience through radio programs such as "Money Matters" and "How to Manage Your Money," which were broadcast internationally. His literary output included works on personal finance, business ethics, and even speculative fiction. His final book, "Nothing to Fear," detailed his personal experiences with cancer, and he established the Larry Burkett Cancer Research Foundation shortly before his death.

In his 1991 book, "The Coming Economic Earthquake," Burkett expressed concerns about escalating federal deficits and the widespread use of debt by individuals and businesses. He predicted significant economic hardship, likely to occur after the year 2000, unless prevailing policies were altered. Burkett was critical of Keynesian economic principles, which he believed favored continuous deficits, reduced savings, and increased government intervention, ultimately leading to financial disaster. He foresaw a potential calamity, comparable to the Great Depression, stemming from the increasing burden of national debt and the temptation to "monetize" it.