Bohemian Grove: The 2023 Member List Revealed – Power, Secrecy, and Elite Connections
The world of the Bohemian Grove, a secluded redwood forest in Monte Rio, California, has long been shrouded in mystery. Recently, an independent journalist unveiled the full 2023 retreat member list, offering a rare glimpse into the exclusive society and its powerful attendees. The list reads like a who’s who of American elites, spanning industries from technology and finance to politics and entertainment.
Who’s on the List?
Among the names revealed as members of the ultra-secretive, men-only Bohemian Grove society in 2023 are prominent figures like Paul Pelosi, Jimmy Buffett, Conan O’Brien, Michael Bloomberg, and Eric Schmidt. This information comes from a membership list obtained and published by independent journalist Daniel Boguslaw on Substack. Boguslaw’s work adds to the history of investigative journalism attempting to penetrate the Grove’s secrecy, following in the footsteps of publications like Mother Jones and reporters like Alex Jones and Alex Shoumatoff.
Boguslaw’s acquisition of the list wasn’t through infiltration, but through persistent effort. After obtaining a 2017 attendance list, he spent weeks tracking down a San Francisco club member, eventually receiving the 2023 list via a courier. The Intercept initially planned to publish the story but ultimately “spiked it,” reportedly due to concerns about potential repercussions – a pattern echoing past attempts to expose the Grove, such as a story killed by People magazine in 1991.
A Glimpse Inside the Elite Network
The 2023 camp membership list contains approximately 2,200 individuals. While many are relatively unknown, the presence of high-profile individuals is striking. Beyond the celebrities, the list is dominated by wealthy individuals, politicians, scientists, and cultural figures. Interestingly, the list reveals a prevalence of traditional names – John, Robert, William, James, and David appearing frequently.
The members are organized into “camps,” described as akin to fraternities, where they socialize during visits to the Grove. The Standard has highlighted members with strong ties to the San Francisco Bay Area, broken down by industry:
- Politics: Paul Pelosi (venture capitalist and husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi), Bobby Inman (retired four-star admiral and former NSA director), Edwin Meese III (U.S. attorney general under Reagan).
- Technology: Eric Schmidt (former Google CEO and executive chairman of Alphabet), Brook H. Byers (senior partner at Kleiner Perkins).
- Finance: Charles Johnson (cofounder and former chairman of Franklin Templeton Investments), Rupert Johnson Jr. (vice chairman of Franklin Templeton Investments), Richard Kovacevich (former CEO and chairman of Wells Fargo & Company).
- Arts & Culture: Charles Desmarais (former SF Chronicle art critic), John Berggruen (owner of Berggruen Gallery), Nion McEvoy (CEO of Chronicle Books).
- Academia & Science: Karl Deisseroth (Stanford neuroscientist), Robert Tjian (former president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute), Stanley Prusiner (Nobel Prize-winning neurologist).
Despite reaching out, none of the individuals listed have responded to requests for comment, adhering to the club’s rule of silence regarding its members and activities. The Bohemian Grove remains a symbol of power, secrecy, and the enduring allure of exclusive societies.
Further Exploration
For more information on the Bohemian Grove and its members, you can explore these resources:
- Mother Jones: The Bohemian Grove – An early in-depth look at the Grove.
- Vanity Fair: The Bohemian Grove – A detailed report on the history and activities of the club.
