When you hear the phrase top 10 bilderberg, you might picture shadowy elites huddled in a dimly‑lit hotel ballroom, plotting world domination. In reality, the 2017 roster reads more like a who’s‑who of global power players – from Silicon Valley’s biggest brain to a young Dutch ocean‑clean‑up prodigy, and even a European monarch. Below we break down each member, their credentials, and why their presence at the Bilderberg gathering matters.

Why the top 10 bilderberg members matter

10 Eric E. Schmidt

Beyond serving as executive chairman of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, Eric Schmidt also chairs a Pentagon advisory board that aims to fuse cutting‑edge Silicon Valley innovation with the United States’ most formidable military‑industrial complex. He’s been quoted saying the Bilderberg gathering is “looking for ways to use new technologies to solve new and emerging problems,” hinting at a tech‑driven agenda.

Given that Google’s AI divisions are pioneering breakthroughs and that the search engine commands over 65 % of global queries, there’s absolutely nothing to fear when Schmidt slips behind closed doors with the Bilderberg crowd. Rest assured, they’re not plotting a robot uprising – at least not that we’ve heard.

9 Boyan Slat

While many still picture the Bilderbergs as a cadre of seasoned old‑boys, this year’s lineup shows a fresh face: 22‑year‑old Dutch inventor Boyan Slat. He’s the brain behind The Ocean Cleanup, a theoretical system of booms and filters designed to rid the world’s seas of plastic debris. His youthful optimism adds a surprising splash of environmental zeal to the mix.

Although his technology is undeniably geared toward cleaning, we can’t rule out the possibility that a future iteration might double‑dip as a shark‑mounted laser. Just kidding – but you never know what a brilliant mind might conjure when surrounded by secretive power brokers.

8 King Willem‑Alexander

The Netherlands’ monarch, King Willem‑Alexander, is not only the continent’s youngest sovereign but also the tenth‑richest head of state, boasting a net worth north of £10 billion. His résumé includes extensive military service and a deep‑seated passion for water management – a crucial expertise for a nation perpetually battling sea‑level rise.

Water‑management know‑how might seem an odd fit for a clandestine assembly, yet the kingdom’s staunch support for the Paris Agreement positions the king as a valuable voice on climate policy, especially as the United States steps back. Perhaps his presence signals a subtle pushback against former President Trump’s environmental roll‑backs.

7 Levent Cakiroglu

Levent Cakiroglu earned his ticket to the Bilderberg table through sheer influence and wealth. He heads Koc Holding, a sprawling Turkish conglomerate that owns 113 companies across supermarkets, energy, automotive manufacturing, communications, defense, and consumer electronics. In short, if there’s a Turkish pie, Koc has a sizable slice.

Against a backdrop of political turbulence in Turkey, Cakiroglu’s global footprint and the Turkish government’s occasional refugee‑threat tactics make his inclusion both logical and, to the paranoid, a little unsettling. Of course, the influx of refugees is just another facet of global interdependence – nothing to fret about.

6 Cui Tiankai

The Bilderberg meetings aim to bridge Europe and the United States, so the presence of Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to Washington, is noteworthy. With China now leading the world’s effort to meet the Paris climate targets, Cui champions his nation’s clean‑energy achievements while also navigating a fraught geopolitical landscape in the East Asian seas.

Upcoming side‑sessions focused exclusively on China will feature representatives from the CIA, NSA, Carlyle Group, and KKR, raising eyebrows about the depth of U.S.‑China strategic dialogue. Still, the Bilderberg’s role is simply to foster conversation – not to plot world‑wide domination.

5 George Osborne

Former British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, now editor of the free‑daily London Evening Standard, carries a reputation for scandal and controversy. Though the Bilderberg circle typically shuns journalists, Osborne’s inclusion hints at a strategic desire to shape media narratives from within.

After being ousted by Prime Minister May in 2016, Osborne turned vocal critic of his own party, especially after Britain voted to reject the EU’s globalist agenda. Whether he’s attending to sow dissent or simply to network with fellow power players remains an open question – but rest assured, no covert plot is implied.

4 David Petraeus

After a high‑profile affair led to his resignation from the CIA, General David Petraeus found a new arena at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), where he now chairs the KKR Global Institute. The institute’s mission is to blend expertise on geopolitics, macro‑economics, demographics, energy, technology, and ESG considerations – a perfect fit for a former top‑tier intelligence officer.

Petraeus’s transition from battlefield commander to corporate strategist underscores the fluidity between security, finance, and policy. While some might suspect a hidden agenda, the KGI’s public charter makes it clear that the group is focused on analysis, not espionage.

3 William Burns

William Burns, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State under President Obama, has warned that President Trump is “hollowing out the ideas, initiative, and institutions” that sustain American leadership. Now helming the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Burns is deeply involved in the Bilderberg dialogue on rising populism and the future pace of globalization.

Renowned for his diplomatic work in Russia and Iran, Burns brings a nuanced perspective to the table, ensuring that discussions consider both geopolitical tensions and the subtle art of statecraft. Whether he’s shaping policy or merely observing, his voice carries weight among the world’s elite.

2 Chris Liddell

Chris Liddell represents the Trump administration at Bilderberg 2017, alongside National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Dubbed a “special projects” guru, Liddell’s résumé includes stints at Microsoft, General Motors, and the Council on Foreign Relations, blending tech, automotive, and policy expertise.

His role likely involves navigating heated debates with critics of the Trump agenda, offering a pragmatic bridge between business acumen and political strategy. While some may suspect covert motives, the reality is far less dramatic – he’s simply there to discuss, not dominate.

1 Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger, the venerable statesman who somehow still walks the Earth after five decades of shaping global politics, heads the 2017 Bilderberg gathering. Though many point to his controversial legacy – from alleged sympathies for authoritarian regimes to a reputation for subverting democratic processes – he remains a towering figure in diplomatic circles.

His presence underscores the group’s gravitas, yet the Bilderberg’s secretive nature does not automatically translate into nefarious schemes. Citizens can go about their lives, confident that the meeting’s discussions are, at worst, a high‑level think‑tank of the world’s most influential individuals.

The 10 former cult members featured below share their harrowing journeys, proving that escaping such darkness takes immense courage.

10. The Children Of God (Now Known As The Family International)

10 Former Cult Survivor Story

Natacha Tormey entered the world under the banner of The Children of God, an evangelical group that insisted followers emulate the first disciples of Christ. Its charismatic leader, David Berg, allegedly urged members to engage in “share‑sex” practices, even promoting the idea that women should use sexual activity as a recruitment weapon.

She vividly recalls a night when, as a child, she watched a cult member brutally “discipline” her brother by strangling him until his face turned blue and he could no longer breathe. The helplessness she felt during that ordeal has haunted her ever since.

At the age of 18, Natacha fled the cult, seeking refuge with a boyfriend from the outside world. Although the transition was rocky, she eventually found peace. Tragically, a total of 50 members from her former community have taken their own lives.

9. Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints (FLDS) ranks among the largest Mormon fundamentalist groups, notorious for its homophobic, racist, sexist, and totalitarian doctrines, as well as its ongoing practice of polygamy. Brielle Decker was one of the wives of Warren Jeffs, the self‑styled “prophet” now serving a life sentence for child sexual assault.

Following a police raid in Texas after Jeffs’ arrest, FLDS members were shuffled into a network of “safe houses” to evade authorities. Brielle and several others were dispatched to a remote safe house in Wyoming, an experience she describes as deeply traumatic.

Jeffs allegedly ordered followers to stalk and harass Brielle, telling her that she should drown herself in a nearby reservoir. He warned that refusal would result in her death, staged to look like suicide.

Determined to test the threat, Brielle asked whether she truly should jump. The answer was a chilling “Yes.” She waded into the water, remaining neck‑deep for an hour, yet nobody came to rescue her.

The ordeal left her stunned that the group would abandon a member to die for the sake of the church. At 26, she managed to escape a locked room by unscrewing a window and breaking through. Since then, she has been adopted and rebuilt her life.

8. Christian Assemblies International

A religious group and registered charity, Christian Assemblies International (CAI) presents itself as a Pentecostal church grounded in innocent Christian values. Former member Emily Wassmann, however, paints a far darker picture.

Born into CAI, Emily witnessed a litany of horrors throughout her upbringing. She alleges that women were treated like slaves, enduring both physical and verbal abuse at the hands of male members.

The leader, Pastor Scott Williams, claimed divine authorization to override biblical prohibitions against homosexuality and instituted bizarre sexual‑obedience rituals for his male followers. After a massive exodus in 2006, Williams retreated to Coffs Harbour, where he now resides with his wife in a house purchased with church donations.

7. Word Of Life Christian Church

Nathan Ames recounts a horrifying October 11, 2015 incident in which nine members of the Word of Life Christian Church beat 17‑year‑old Christopher Leonard and his 19‑year‑old brother Lucas for a relentless twelve‑hour assault. The savage beating ultimately claimed Lucas’s life.

Ames labels the congregation a “house of torment,” noting that mental abuse and urban isolation were rampant. The church even silenced televisions whenever a commercial aired, ensuring members were cut off from any external influence.

According to Ames, the group relied heavily on manipulation and mind games to keep members under control. He departed the church once its moral decay became unmistakable.

6. The Family

Molly Hollenbach, a free‑spirited soul of the 1960s, sought self‑discovery and stumbled upon “The Family,” a New Mexico commune rooted in Gestalt therapy. After pleading for acceptance, she was placed in a cramped five‑room adobe alongside 55 other residents.

Members were forced to relinquish their names and personal belongings, adhering to a belief that they must transform themselves to revolutionize the world. The communal doctrine quickly revealed a sexist, warped underbelly.

The elder leader, Lord Byron, demanded sexual access to every female member and proclaimed himself a messianic figure. Women were relegated to kitchen duties, required to wear skirts, and subjected to oppressive gender norms. Molly eventually fled and sought psychiatric care.

5. Commonwealth Covenant Church

Two former members of the Commonwealth Covenant Church (CCC) remain anonymous but reveal the sect’s cult‑like nature, citing multiple layers of abuse. One woman recounts filing sexual‑abuse allegations in the 1990s, after which the church bullied both her and her mother out of the congregation.

The investigating detective described the case as one of the most disturbing he’d ever handled, noting the church’s secrecy and patriarchal structure shielded the abuser for years. The community imposed strict gender segregation, forbade girls from cutting their hair, and taught women that their sole purpose was childbearing. Media such as radio and television were banned outright.

Abuser Jonathan John Edward Belcher, now residing in Masterton, New Zealand, was convicted on ten counts of sexual offenses against a girl who was between eight and sixteen years old at the time.

4. Westboro Baptist Church

Lauren Drain quickly became the black sheep of her family after being ostracized from the Westboro Baptist Church. Her banishment stemmed from questioning core elements of the church’s doctrine.

In a Reddit AMA, Lauren disclosed that when she raised doubts, she was labeled a divisive liar. She also revealed that the church employed fear‑based tactics, threatening members that God would kill them if they attempted to leave.

3. River Road Fellowship

In the 1990s, Victor Barnard founded the River Road Fellowship, a quirky Christian sect that attracted 150 followers who abandoned their homes to settle on an 85‑acre campground in Minnesota. Barnard, donning robes and a staff, claimed to represent Jesus himself.

By the year 2000, he designated ten first‑born young women as “exemplar virgins” to serve him exclusively. These girls endured a regimented schedule of “sex days” where Barnard would assault them, each victim marking an “X” on her calendar after each incident.

The mounting evidence led to Barnard facing 59 counts of sexual assault. When confronted, he fled to Brazil, only to be captured a year later. He now serves a 30‑year prison sentence in Minnesota.

2. The Peoples Temple

Jim Jones made infamy as the leader of the Peoples Temple, orchestrating a mass murder‑suicide of nearly 1,000 Americans in Guyana on November 18, 1978. Decades later, survivor Leslie Wagner‑Wilson, now residing in Duluth, continues to share her harrowing experience.

Leslie recounts hearing a voice urging her to flee, warning that staying would mean losing her child forever. Guided by that warning, she escaped alongside ten others, witnessing firsthand how Jones forced family separations and demanded absolute devotion to himself and the cause.

Members endured grueling labor, starvation, and beatings. Those who threatened to leave were confined to Jones’s “care unit” and administered Thorazine to suppress dissent.

Unaware of the impending mass suicide plan, Leslie fled the cult. Today she grapples with survivor’s guilt, mourning the tragedy while striving to ensure the world never forgets the horror of that day.

1. The Family (2)

Indeed, there exists a second cult simply called “The Family,” notorious as Australia’s most insidious sect. Operating from the 1960s through the 1990s, the group was founded by Anne Hamilton‑Byrne, who, alongside her husband and a renowned physicist, forged a polytheistic community rife with abuse.

Anne orchestrated child theft via adoption scams, compelling children to undergo hair‑bleaching and uniform dressing to create a “master race.” She convinced followers she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Survivor Anouree Treena‑Byrne recalls being forced to ingest drugs such as Mogadon and Valium to remain docile.

The abuse escalated dramatically: children were administered LSD during “clearings” and confined to dark rooms. Anouree also notes that punishments sometimes involved prolonged fasting.

Physical torment was routine—heads were submerged in buckets of water until victims feared death. The cult’s property finally faced a police raid in 1987 after two members alerted authorities.

Following the raid, all members received psychiatric treatment; many continue to battle PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Several former members have taken their own lives.

Due to extradition loopholes, Anne and her husband were fined merely $5,000 for minor fraud, allowing them to live freely thereafter.

Prince Harry’s much‑anticipated memoir Spare has hit the shelves, and true to royal honey‑dripping expectations, it’s flying off the racks. The book promises a candid look at how the Crown’s expectations shaped his life, his stints in the armed forces, and the highly publicized departure from royalty alongside his outspoken American spouse. In this roundup of 10 times members have decided to spill the beans on the secret societies they once called home, the revelations are as juicy as a royal gossip column.

10 Times Members Reveal Hidden Truths

10 John Robison—Freemasons

John Robison was a heavyweight in Britain’s scientific circles—a professor at Edinburgh, an authority on optics and mathematics, and a respected voice in the Royal Society. In the late 1700s he penned the incendiary volume Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe, a treatise that peeled back the curtain on the Freemasons and, most famously, the shadowy Illuminati cell that has haunted conspiracy lore ever since. As a Mason himself, Robison could draw on insider knowledge, and his book sold out on release, spawning countless re‑prints.

From his Scottish perch he watched the French monarchy tumble, the church’s power crumble, and the entire Revolution erupt. He blamed the chaos squarely on Masonic influence, arguing that the revolutionaries were nothing more than pawns in a grand, secretive game orchestrated by the Freemasons.

9 Ed Decker—Mormon Church

Born in 1935, Ed Decker grew up inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints before branching out to become a leading voice for ex‑Mormons with the group Saints Alive in Jesus. Teaming up with Dave Hunt, Decker co‑authored the controversial book The God Makers, which pulled back the veil on the inner workings of the LDS Church, exposing doctrines and practices that many outsiders never imagined.

His disaffection deepened after encountering other critics of Mormonism, leading him to reject the claim that Joseph Smith was divinely commissioned to restore pure Christianity, and to publicly challenge the church’s foundational narratives.

8 Stetson Kennedy—KKK

Stetson Kennedy, a Depression‑era writer, turned his investigative talents toward the Ku Klux Klan. In 1954 his groundbreaking book The Klan Unmasked revealed the organization’s secret handshakes, passwords, folklore, and the absurdity of their white‑sheet garb. He collected evidence straight from the grand dragon himself, handing it over to the IRS, which secured a $685,000 tax lien against the Klan.

Kennedy’s work also helped draft a legal brief that led Georgia to revoke the Klan’s corporate charter, and he testified in numerous related cases before his death at 94, having spent a lifetime dismantling the terror group’s mystique.

7 Heinrich Himmler—Nazis

Heinrich Himmler, the chief architect of the Holocaust and Hitler’s right‑hand, kept a painstaking diary that survived the war’s ruin. Compiled by his assistant and uncovered in 2013, the journals span over a thousand pages, chronicling daily life, the execution of dissenting Polish officers, and the chilling logistics of the Final Solution, including orders to arm Auschwitz guards with vicious dogs.

While the diaries are stark and personal rather than reflective, they provide an unsettling window into the mind of one of history’s most monstrous figures, documenting the bureaucratic efficiency behind genocide.

6 Jeannie Mills—People’s Temple

Jeannie Mills, alongside her husband Al and their two children, fled the People’s Temple in 1974 after serving as the church’s publication chief (Deanna) and official photographer (Elmer). After leaving, they founded the Human Freedom Center, a sanctuary for defectors, and became vocal critics of Jim Jones’ cult, especially after the Jonestown tragedy.

In February 1980 the Mills family was brutally murdered in Berkeley, sparking rumors of a death‑squad retaliation from former Temple members. Later investigations suggested their son Eddie might have been involved, dampening the theory of a secretive cult‑run execution squad.

5 Leah Remini—Scientology

Leah Remini, best known for her role on The King of Queens, was raised in Scientology from age eight when her mother converted. Her eventual departure was prompted by concerns for her nine‑year‑old daughter, and shortly after she filed a missing‑person report for Scientology leader David Miscavige’s wife, Shelly, who vanished in 2007.

Since leaving, Remini has become a fierce opponent of the church, producing the investigative series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and actively supporting legal actions against the organization.

4 India and Catherine Oxenberg—NXIVM

Catherine Oxenberg and her daughter India enrolled in NXIVM’s “entrepreneurial” workshops, only to discover a hidden secret society within the group that tore mother and daughter apart. After seven harrowing years, both escaped the sex‑cult’s grip, and Catherine chronicled the ordeal in a memoir detailing her desperate rescue attempts.

India eventually recognized the manipulation, and the cult’s founder Keith Raniere was convicted of racketeering, sex trafficking, and possession of child pornography, sealing the organization’s downfall.

3 Janja Lalich—Democratic Workers Party

The Democratic Workers Party (DWP) emerged in the 1970s as a radical, women‑led Marxist‑Leninist experiment in the United States, championing a strict sectarian approach. Though it dissolved in 1985, its cult‑like adherence to a primitive Leninist doctrine left a lasting imprint.

Former member Janja Lalich endured extreme control: forced name changes, the burning of personal belongings, income restrictions, and isolation from family. After escaping, she became a noted sociologist and author, exposing how such groups recruit and coerce members in works that illuminate the mechanics of cult dynamics.

2 Joe Valachi—The Mafia (aka Cosa Nostra)

Joe Valachi, an American mobster who rose to the rank of sergeant within Lucky Luciano’s Mafia family, turned informant in 1962 after a death threat from Vito Genovese drove him to murder a fellow inmate in a paranoid frenzy. He then spilled the Mafia’s secrets to the Bureau of Narcotics, the FBI, the DOJ, and even the U.S. Senate.

Valachi’s testimony became one of the most influential inside looks on organized crime, earning him a $100,000 bounty on his head, a protective program, and a tragic end when a heart attack finally claimed his life.

1 Carlos Lehder—Medellín Drug Cartel

Carlos Lehder began his criminal career smuggling stolen cars into Canada and the U.S. East Coast, which led him into the orbit of the Medellín cartel. He soon orchestrated massive cocaine shipments, persuading George Jung to use aircraft for transport, and rose to a senior position before falling out with Pablo Escobar.

Arrested and sentenced to life, Lehder’s term was later reduced when he agreed to testify against former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, whose regime had facilitated cartel shipments. After serving a reduced sentence, he entered witness protection, was deported to Germany, and retained his German citizenship.

What comes to mind when you first think of a cult? For many, the phrase conjures images of shadowy rituals, but the reality can be far more ordinary – and sometimes, wildly famous. In this roundup of 10 celebrities members who found themselves tangled in cults of all sorts, we’ll peel back the curtain on everything from Hollywood charm schools to fringe spiritual movements. Buckle up, because the truth is stranger – and more entertaining – than any screenplay.

10 Celebrities Members: Hidden Cult Connections

10 Val Kilmer

From soaring as Maverick in Top Gun to lending his voice to the heroic Moses in The Prince of Egypt, Val Kilmer’s cinematic résumé reads like a Hollywood greatest‑hits reel. Yet behind the fame, Kilmer has been a steadfast follower of Christian Science, a religious tradition that emphasizes spiritual healing and the power of the Divine Mind to overcome physical ailments.

In January 2015, Kilmer was rushed to the hospital after a mysterious tumor was discovered, though he initially denied any cancer diagnosis. After two grueling years of conventional treatment, he publicly claimed in April 2017 that his recovery was a direct result of his Christian Science beliefs, insisting that the medical interventions had worsened his condition while his faith ultimately cured the disease.

9 Allison Mack

If the name Allison Mack doesn’t immediately ring a bell, think back to the teen drama 7th Heaven, the sci‑fi series Smallville, or the quirky comedy Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. Before she was best known for playing a superhero’s love interest, Mack became a high‑ranking member of NXIVM, a group that masqueraded as a self‑improvement company while secretly operating as a sex‑trafficking cult.

Within NXIVM, Mack recruited vulnerable women, employed blackmail tactics, and even performed initiation ceremonies that involved branding victims with a combination of her initials and those of the cult’s founder. Her involvement led to an arrest in 2018, and in 2021 she was sentenced to three years in prison for her role in the organization’s criminal activities.

8 Jaden Smith

Son of Hollywood legend Will Smith, Jaden Smith has carved out his own reputation as a free‑thinking provocateur and vocal supporter of Orgone theory. The concept, originally introduced in the 1930s by Austrian doctor Wilhelm Reich, proposes an invisible, universal life force that permeates all matter, from subatomic particles to sprawling galaxies.

Orgone, sometimes referred to as the “Orgonite Society,” claims that this massless energy is the building block of existence, influencing everything from human health to cosmic structures. Jaden’s outspoken advocacy for this controversial idea has kept the conversation alive in both scientific circles and pop‑culture forums.

7 Patricia Arquette

Most viewers recognize Patricia Arquette from iconic roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, the family adventure Holes, and the animated hit Toy Story 4. Yet before she became a household name, Arquette’s upbringing was far from conventional. Her family lived in a rural Virginian commune called Skymont Subud, a community that operated without modern utilities such as electricity or indoor plumbing, encouraging members to seek inner guidance.

Founded in the 1920s in Indonesia by the self‑styled prophet Muhamad Subud Sumohadiwidjojo, Subud describes itself as a spiritual movement aimed at helping individuals realize their true potential. Arquette eventually grew disillusioned, citing her parents as the biggest hypocrites, and left the commune to join her sister before eventually moving to sunny California.

6 R. Kelly

The unforgettable 1996 anthem “I Believe I Can Fly,” featured in Space Jam, cemented R. Kelly’s status as a music powerhouse. However, behind the chart‑topping hits lay a litany of accusations involving sexual exploitation of underage girls, leading to a cascade of criminal charges.

A 1996 civil lawsuit revealed allegations that a teenage high‑school singer was coerced into recruiting friends and pressuring them into group sexual encounters. Fast‑forward to 2019, federal authorities arrested Kelly on charges ranging from child sexual exploitation and human trafficking to racketeering and obstruction of justice.

During the ensuing hearings, multiple witnesses described a secretive “sex cult” environment where Kelly dictated everything from the victims’ meals to their clothing. By January 2021, he faced 22 criminal counts, and a September 2021 New York jury convicted him on nine counts, with additional trials slated for the following year.

5 Michelle Pfeiffer

Growing up in the sun‑drenched suburbs of Southern California, future Oscar‑nominee Michelle Pfeiffer seemed destined for stardom. Yet before her breakthrough roles, she fell under the influence of a new‑age group known as Breatharianism, sometimes called Inedia.

Breatharianism posits that humans can survive without food or water, claiming that pure “life force” sustains the body. While the movement has been linked to fatal outcomes for several adherents, Pfeiffer admits that the group siphoned a significant amount of money from her. Nonetheless, she also credits fellow members with helping her overcome personal addictions, ultimately paving the way for her acclaimed acting career.

4 Winona Ryder

Renowned for her quirky performances in Tim Burton classics like Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder has long been associated with avant‑garde circles. One such community is the Rainbow Family, a loosely organized commune that brings together people from all walks of life to share music, food, love, and a vision of a better world.

Inspired by the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the Rainbow Family began gathering in Oregon in 1970 before spreading nationwide. Their assemblies emphasize meditation, silence, and a collective focus on world peace.

Ryder entered the commune at the tender age of seven, joining a 300‑acre California plot that lacked basic utilities and was shared among numerous families. Isolated from mainstream society, she spent her childhood immersed in books and imagination, experiences that would later shape her distinctive acting style.

3 Joaquin Phoenix

Born in Puerto Rico and raised across the United States, Joaquin Phoenix has earned critical acclaim for roles in films such as Gladiator, Signs, Walk the Line, and the iconic villainy of Joker. Yet his early life was anything but ordinary.

The Phoenix family joined the Children of God, later renamed The Family International, a religious movement that preached salvation, spiritual reformation, and an apocalyptic vision of an anti‑Christ. For over a decade, Joaquin and his siblings—River, Rain, Liberty, and Summer—traveled throughout South America as missionaries for the group.

By the mid‑1970s, the organization had introduced a controversial evangelistic tactic known as “flirty fishing,” wherein female members—dubbed “fisherwomen”—seduced men, called “fish,” to extract donations through sexual intimacy. This practice generated substantial revenue and led to a surge in births within the community. Disillusioned by these tactics, the Phoenix family returned to the United States in 1978, eventually settling in Florida.

2 Rose McGowan

Although Rose McGowan’s name evokes the iconic scream queen role she played in 1996’s Scream, her personal history is steeped in darker experiences. Born in Florence, Italy, to American artist parents, she spent her early years within the Children of God, the same “flirty fishing” cult that Joaquin Phoenix later escaped.

McGowan’s childhood involved constant travel across Europe as her parents managed an Italian chapter of the group. She witnessed a litany of abuses—including sexual assault, molestation, and other forms of exploitation—perpetrated within the commune.

The family finally returned to the United States in 1978, but at age fifteen Rose emancipated herself, fleeing to Los Angeles. There, she discovered that Hollywood could be just as treacherous as the cult she had fled, yet she persisted, forging a successful acting career.

1 Glenn Close

Rounding out our list is three‑time Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony winner Glenn Close. Born in Connecticut in 1947, Close spent her formative years under the influence of the Moral Re‑Armament (MRA), an international organization founded in 1938 that encourages active participation in political and social issues.

The MRA promotes four core absolutes—honesty, purity, selflessness, and love—asserting that global change begins with personal transformation. However, Close recalls the movement’s commune‑like atmosphere, noting a pervasive sense of superiority that masked an overbearing surveillance of members’ lives.

She has said that observing the MRA’s behavior profoundly shaped her understanding of human dynamics, a perspective she channels into her celebrated acting career.