10 Most Notorious Cult Leaders to Have Ever Lived

10-Worst-Cult-Leaders-to-Have-Ever-Lived

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most manipulative, controlling, and violent cult leaders in history.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Rajneeshpuram

By masking his true intentions with progressive ideas, Rajneesh amassed a sizable following. His teachings led him to be branded as a sex guru in his home country of India. His large following in the West resulted in him eventually relocating to the United States, where his true nature surfaced. His acolytes lived in poverty, while he led a luxurious lifestyle. Those in his inner circle tried to expand his political power through drastic means, including the first bioterrorist attack in the country and the attempted assassination of a government official. When he was eventually deported, an additional twenty-one countries refused him entry as well.

Warren Jeffs

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As the leader of this sect that believes in multiple marriages, Warren Jeffs viewed women as objects, even counting several of his late father’s wives among his 78 spouses. Those that refused were either forbidden from being wed again, or had to flee the compound entirely. He used his position as leader to arrange several marriages – often between underage individuals and adults. His mistreatment against minors escalated, landing him a spot on the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive list. Although he’s behind bars now, he’s still revered within the church, underscoring how successful his coercion had been.

Joseph Di Mambro & Luc Jouret

Order of the Solar Temple

For some, running a cult is a collaborative effort and both these men played a significant role within the Order of the Solar Temple. Their organization utilized religious trappings, with Di Mambro even claiming that his daughter would produce the next Messiah. He even had another infant killed after believing he was the AntiChrist. When the tides started to turn against them, they took things to the final stage. In 1994, dozens of members were discovered dead in Switzerland, including Jouret and Di Mambro themselves. Their impact didn’t end there; in the following years, several more people ended their lives after believing their teachings.

Shoko Asahara

Aum Shinrikyo

It’s hard to believe that such a vicious organization started out as a simple yoga class. Shoko Asahara eventually accrued a large base and his lessons focused on both self-improvement and faith, allowing him to cast a wide net. However, his intentions were anything but pure. His followers went through initiation rituals involving drugs or extreme physical discomfort. He also had a goal of overtaking the government, which led to him coordinating a disastrous attack on the Tokyo Metro that resulted in over a dozen deaths. His thirst for power was unquenched, leading to several other violent incidents. But his hubris eventually led to his downfall, with his trial considered one of the most significant in Japan’s history.

Paul Nthenge Mackenzie

Good News International Church

It’s terrifying to think about how much abuse occurs without people knowing. There’s no better example of this than the actions of the Good News International Church, the corrupt methods of which went on for decades before being discovered in 2023. Its leader, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, used people’s fear of the end-times to control them, while also demonizing the West. Everything from medicine to food was considered a tool of Satan. This led to his ultimate act of cruelty – a mass starvation event that he exempted himself from. He instructed followers to fast, saying it would allow them to meet Jesus. This led to the deaths of over 100 people, several of which were kids.

Roch Thériault

Ant Hill Kids

For some, evil runs to the very core. The torture that Roch Thériault inflicted upon members of the Ant Hill Kids is enough to horrify even the bravest people. His savagery knew no bounds, with some members being forced to break their own limbs with hammers. They were also forced to hurt each other to prove their loyalty to Thériault. Some members also underwent extreme medical experiments, allowing him to perform surgeries on them, ultimately cutting some of their lives short. His terrible actions ultimately led to him being sentenced to life in prison, where he deservedly spent the rest of his days.

David Koresh

Branch Davidians

His impact both pre- and post-mortem has been disastrous. Starting out as a member of the Branch Davidians, Koresh used his influence among other members to secure authority in the late 1980s. He had warped ideas surrounding women and took several wives, with some allegedly being underage. Rampant child abuse allegations and growing weapons collections raised several red flags among officials. Eventually, the tensions between him and the government mounted, culminating in the controversial Waco siege. While he ended up dying, his influence unfortunately lingered. Timothy McVeigh, the perpetrator behind the Oklahoma City bombing, was so angered by the events that he planned his own horrific revenge, which ended up taking place on the anniversary of Koresh’s death.

Marshall Applewhite

Heaven’s Gate

Not every cult leader needed to resort to aggression to get their way. While Marshall Applewhite didn’t use sex or violence as a means of control, that doesn’t make his actions any less insidious. He insisted that he was one of the witnesses referenced in the Bible, and preached that he and anyone who followed him would reach salvation via a spaceship on the Hale-Bopp comet. He forced people to look and dress the same, along with giving up everything that made them individuals, including their families and sexualities. He was able to manipulate them into believing that self-elimination was the only way to ascend, leading to a now infamous mass death event that’s still referenced in pop culture today.

Charles Manson

The Manson Family

A symbol of the dark side of the 1960s, Manson cultivated a dangerously loyal following. Taking advantage of the hippie movement, he somehow appealed to a number of young people. He believed a race war was imminent, and that it would result in himself being made the master of a new world. Manson planned several appalling events that he believed would ignite this war. The most notorious by far was the slaying of Sharon Tate and several others, whose status turned the crime into a media spectacle. By the time the Manson Family was caught, they had taken nine victims, and were suspected of a dozen more killings. Manson was swiftly reimprisoned, where he rightfully spent the rest of his life.

Jim Jones

Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ

With his seemingly endless charm and confidence, he became the archetypal cult leader. He attracted a following, many of whom believed he possessed healing powers. After officials began investigating him, he moved his base of operations to Guyana. There, they were subjected to harsh living conditions, including a lack of food, and various forms of abuse. When Jonestown was eventually investigated by a U.S. representative, Jones had him murdered. He then ordered a large-scale death event, with over 900 people being forced to drink poisoned Kool-Aid– while he secured a quick exit by gunshot.


Which cult leader do you think had the most horrific methods and impact? Let us know in the comments below.