THE RICHEST CULT LEADER

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

KEITH RANIERE

Keith Allen Raniere (born August 26, 1960) is an American felon, convicted sex trafficker and the founder of NXIVM, a multi-level marketing company and cult based near Albany, New York.

Between 1998 and 2018, NXIVM developed a following primarily through its personal development seminars, recruiting several celebrities and socialites. However, the organization also faced multiple accusations of systemic sexual abuse of female members by Raniere and members of his inner circle, leading to the arrests of Raniere and other NXIVM members in early 2018. Raniere has subsequently been characterized in media reports as a cult leader.

On June 19, 2019, Raniere was convicted of federal crimes including sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit forced labor, all related to a secret society within NXIVM known as DOS, or The Vow. On October 27, 2020, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison

Executive Success Programs and NXIVM

See also: NXIVM

Influences upon NXIVM beliefs and practices

In 1998, Keith Raniere's then partner Toni Natalie met Nancy Salzman, a nurse and trained practitioner of hypnotism and neurolinguistic programming. Natalie recalled:

Nancy said, “You're so wonderful, how can I help you?” So I said, “Well, you can help me with my boyfriend.” He had grandiose ideas and his hours were becoming erratic again... She listened and she said “Oh that's easy, I can help you. He's a sociopath...” They met and four days later she came out with the glazed eyes and gave me the, “You don't know who he is,” and I was like, “Wow, there goes another one.”

Also in 1998, Raniere met Christine Marie Melanakos, a recently divorced mother who had won the title of "Mrs. Michigan 1995.” She recalled that Raniere "explained how there was a profound event that would often happen to the women who became intimate with him, sometimes they would even see a blue light... Ultimately I agreed to be intimate with Keith, and it was just as he said. I even saw a blue light, but I don't think I told him so. I remember thinking, 'Wow, my brain is really susceptible to the power of suggestion.'"

Raniere and Salzman founded Executive Success Programs, a personal development company offering a range of techniques aimed at self-improvement. A few years later, the program was rebranded under the name "NXIVM." Raniere "adopted the title 'Vanguard' from a favorite arcade game in which the destruction of one's enemies increased one's own power." Much of NXIVM was influenced by the teachings of Ayn Rand, one of Raniere's favorite authors.

Raniere's eight-year relationship with Toni Natalie ended in 1999. Natalie later claimed to have been the victim of harassment. In a January 2003 ruling, federal judge Robert Littlefield implied Raniere was using a legal suit to harass his former partner. Wrote Littlefield: "This matter smacks of a jilted fellow's attempt at revenge or retaliation against his former girlfriend, with many attempts at tripping her up along the way."

In 2002, Raniere and Salzman succeeded in recruiting members of the influential Bronfman family, heirs to the multibillion-dollar Seagram's fortune. Sara Bronfman initially became involved, followed by sister Clare Bronfman. Their father, Edgar Bronfman Sr., took a NXIVM course the following year.

He was given 120 years when he was caught and was worth a estimated 2.5million dollars and  as always have a chilled day from the Viking