A leaked membership list of the Bohemian Grove, a secretive retreat in Northern California known for its elite gatherings, has exposed a network of political leaders, corporate executives, and Silicon Valley power players. The list, obtained by journalist Boguslaw in 2024, reveals the names of over 2,200 individuals, many of whom hold significant influence in American society.

Historical Secrecy and Media Scrutiny

The Bohemian Grove has long been shrouded in secrecy, with journalists attempting to penetrate its veil since the 1980s. Methods have included posing as waiters, lost hikers, and guests. Mother Jones magazine was the first to succeed in 1981, publishing an exposé that described the club as the place where ‘men who make decisions that affect us all gather quietly.’ Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist, famously filmed a ceremony at the grove in the 1990s, fueling decades of speculation.

In 2008, Vanity Fair reporter Alex Shoumatoff was arrested after posing as a member. In 2018, Outside magazine reporter Chris Colin was threatened by Bohemian Grove security simply for kayaking up to the high water line of the compound’s beach along the Russian River.

How the Leak Occurred

Boguslaw, the journalist who obtained the list, spent a week in the office of a San Francisco club member, persistently seeking access to the membership roster. He had previously obtained a 2017 attendance list and stayed in a Tenderloin single-room-occupancy hotel while hounding the local member. Weeks later, he found longer-term lodging in West Oakland and was eventually handed two manila envelopes containing the 2023 camp membership list.

Boguslaw’s story was supposed to be published by The Intercept, but the outlet reportedly ‘spiked’ it, fearing backlash. The Intercept did not respond to a request for comment. This is not an isolated incident; in 1991, People magazine reportedly killed a story about Bohemian Grove after the magazine’s parent company, Time Warner, recognized a Time Warner executive within the compound.

Membership Insights and Notable Names

The 2023 camp membership list contains around 2,200 people, many of whom are not well known. Among the celebrities listed are Florida man Jimmy Buffett, documentarian Ken Burns, and actor Jim Belushi. Henry Kissinger, former U.S. secretary of state, was unsurprisingly a member. Prominent figures include Mike Bloomberg, Charles Koch, and others.

Most members are wealthy individuals, politicians seen on CSPAN, and a mix of scientists and cultural figures. The most common first names on the list are John (128 times), Robert (115), William (85), James (84), and David (75), highlighting the club’s traditional, old-money demographic.

The names are divided into ‘camps,’ which a source describes as akin to fraternities, where members party together during visits to the compound. The list highlights members with the strongest San Francisco ties, categorized by industry.

Political and Business Elites

Among the political figures are Carlos Bea, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge in San Francisco; Paul Pelosi, husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi; and Bobby Inman, a retired four-star admiral and former NSA director. Edwin Meese III, former U.S. attorney general under Reagan, and Sam Singer, president of PR firm Singer Associates, are also listed.

In the business and finance sector, the list includes billionaires like the Bechtel heirs, Tim and William Draper, and the Fisher brothers, whose parents founded Gap Inc. in San Francisco. Richard Kovacevich, former CEO of Wells Fargo, and Charles Johnson, cofounder of Franklin Templeton Investments, are also featured.

Tech and Media Figures

Among the tech industry members is Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO and executive chairman of Alphabet. Other notable names include Brook H. Byers, a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins, and Mario Rosati, a senior partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

In media and the arts, the list includes Charles Desmarais, a former SF Chronicle art critic, and John Berggruen, owner of Berggruen Gallery in San Francisco. In food and wine, the sons of Robert Mondavi, whose namesake Napa winery helped transform California wine into a global powerhouse, are listed.

Scientists and academics include Karl Deisseroth, a Stanford neuroscientist, and Stanley Prusiner, a Nobel Prize-winning neurologist who discovered prions. Other notable figures include David Patterson, a pioneering computer scientist and Turing Award winner.

Implications and Future Steps

The leak has sparked debate about the role of elite groups in shaping policy and public opinion. The Bohemian Club spokesperson, Sam Singer, stated that the club is private and does not disclose its membership list or guest details. However, the leak raises questions about transparency and the influence of such organizations.

As The Standard continues to analyze the list, more Bay Area figures are expected to be revealed. The names, as Boguslaw noted, are likely to be John, David, or Robert, reflecting the club’s traditional naming conventions.

For now, the leak remains a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of elite power structures in America. The implications for public trust and the role of such organizations in shaping national discourse remain to be seen.