How Many Followers Does Raniere Have?

MK10ART, Keith Raniere, Clare and Sara Bronfman and below Eduardo Asunsolo and Suneel Chakravorty

A reader, who I will refer to as Anne, and choose a picture that might best represent her appearance, has asked several questions about Keith Raniere in a comment for another story. I thought I would answer these in a post. Anne evidently knows NXIVM well.

Above: It was not the cover of Rolling Stone, but it was not a bad entry into the national spotlight — the cover of Forbes Magazine, October 2003.

Anne: Out of the 17,000 people who took NXIVM courses, how many were followers of Keith Raniere?  Some of those 17,000 only took a

  1. 1-day or 2-day introductory course;
  2. A 5 day intensive;
  3. An 8-day intensive;
  4. A 16-day intensive; or
  5. Ethos or Origins classes.

Frank: Follower is a word that is hard to quantify. The majority of those counted in the 17,000 NXIVM course-takers took only one of two courses.

The attendees at Vanguard Week
Vanguard Week Celebrants

As many as 500 people paid $2,000 or more to go to Vanguard Week, which is about the number I would call followers at NXIVM’s peak.

I think – and I am guessing – several thousand more might have been called his admirers. Not followers, but people who were appreciative of the NXIVM course[s] they took and considered Raniere to be, as its creator, a remarkable man.

Anne: Some went on to take advanced classes – that is where they might have bought into the fake mission that Raniere & Nancy Salzman were selling behind their training and then step, unknowingly, into the Cult of NXIVM.

Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman, 2009

How many in Albany, the US, Mexico, Canada, and the rest of the world?

Frank: I think you have stated this well. Those who took more than one 16 day intensive and wanted more. Those who considered themselves on the Stipe Path aspired to become coaches, proctors, and head trainers. Those who hoped to make their living and dedicate their lives were to be, in varying degrees to be called followers.

The higher the rank, the greater the follower.

How many of those people stayed more than a year, five years on & on?

Frank: The history of NXIVM, which survived about 20 years, is replete with people who spent a portion of their lives and then left, some quietly and without malice, and some with notorious acrimony.

Some were with Raniere before he started NXIVM in 1998 and were there until the arrest in 2018. Others stayed for varying periods.

If we look at followers, we also have to break them down into those who had an intimate relationship with Raniere and those who did not.

I would say that the FBI was more or less accurate when they alleged that he had a rotating group of women with whom he had relationships.

They came and went, and Raniere often sought to replace older ones with younger ones.

To enter a relationship.

The “Inner Circle” of NXIVM/ESP was primarily comprised of women – every one of whom he had an intimate relationship at one time or another.

Barbara Bouchey, for instance, stayed about nine years. Kristin Keeffe, 22 years. Barbara Jeske, more than 20, Pam Cafritz, almost 30 years. Karen Unterreiner stayed for 40 years.  Cami stayed for 12. Dani stayed for 9.

When NXIVM started to burn to the ground, how many members did it have in the Cult of NXIVM?

John Tighe published a coaches list in 2011. I obtained the 2017 coaches list, which I shared with Neil Glazer with the request that he forward it to the Dept. of Justice EDNY. There were about 350 names on the coaches list, meaning they had a yellow [coach] sash or higher.

This list was compiled before the time I broke the DOS branding story that severely diminished the membership almost immediately.

As another point of reference, I understand that the 2016 Vanguard Week had 500 attendees, more or less. After I broke the DOS story in June, the number of attendees to the 2017 Vanguard Week was about 150.  Several people paid but did not attend V-Week 2017, the last V-Week with Raniere in attendance.

V-Week 2017, on the shores of Lake George, was a lonesome affair compared to past years.

Anne: After Raniere was found guilty, how many loyalists does he have left?

Are some that remain in Mexico? If so, they are being reticent.

Same with Canada.

Eight DOS women from the website DOSsierproject.com.

In the US, there are those in the DOSsier Project. What is that – nine?

Brandon Porter, and the men of the NXIVM 5.

Do Clare and Sara Bronfman still support Raniere? Is this a known fact?

 

Clare and Sara Bronfman supported Keith Raniere and helped him pursue his endeavors.,

 

Frank: Clare is still a staunch follower. Sara has left the USA and has distanced herself from Raniere, NXIVM, and I believe she has estranged herself from her sister, Clare.  I think she feels that the NXIVM plaintiffs would not have any claim against her but for her sister’s role with Raniere. She has made no public statement other than to announce she is no longer affiliated with NXIVM.

Anne: That is about 15 (plus or minus) loyalists who openly support Raniere.

Frank: Let’s count the people who openly support Raniere.

  1. Nicki Clyne
  2. Eduardo Asunsolo
  3. Marc Elliot
  4. Michele Hatchette
  5. Leah Mottishaw
  6. Danielle Roberts
  7. Brandon Porter
  8. Samantha La baron
  9. Angelica Hinojos
  10. Linda Chung
  11. Clare Bronfman
  12. Esther Carlson
  13. Daniela Padilla
  14. Justin Elliot
  15. Hector {Cami’s dad]
  16. Mariana [Cami’s sister and mother of Raniere’s youngest child.]
  17. Suneel

In addition, I know of about 20 others, some of them in Mexico, who still believe in Raniere. I think there are likely more than that. Maybe 50- 100 altogether. Some want to restart NXIVM, and almost all believe Raniere was unfairly prosecuted.

Anne: Knowing that the letters Nancy Salzman filed in her sentencing memorandum were not all “real” support letters but old testimonial letters from the past, how do we know all the letters of support Raniere had for him were not the same situation?

Frank:  I think the Raniere letters are most likely authentic because he was in custody at the time, unlike Nancy Salzman. I think his followers would not be so bold as to submit phony letters on his behalf. A few names may have changed their view of Vanguard since then.

Anne: How would people even know to write Judge Nicholas Garaufis to inform him that they didn’t submit that letter of support for Raniere?

Frank: Other than the names published in Frank Report, I imagine they would not know that their names were used. I suspect that Nancy tried so hard to keep her letters under seal.  Raniere’s letters were not under seal.

Anne: Bottom line, Keith Raniere has fallen in his rankings of the Vanguard. Will his loyalists fall off over the years when they discover he won’t be getting out of prison?

Nicki Clyne, will the year’s pass and her loneliness grow?

Will Nicki Clyne be willing to remain loyal to her Vow of Love to Raniere, Knowing she can never “have him again” in that way?

Will Mariana remain a single mother?

Will Mariana remain a single mother raising Raniere’s son all by herself?

Mariana and Keith Alan Raniere in Mexico in late 2017.

If the situation were reversed, Raniere would already have replaced both women and found someone else to raise his son.

Frank: He would have employed Cami, her sister, or any number of women to take care of his son, not because he had any special or particular interest in the child’s wellbeing but because it would look bad for him if he did not.

Case in point: His son Gaelyn was taken by his mother out of NXIVM in 2014, and Raniere never saw him again, and according to the mother, he never paid a dime for his support.

What’s curious about this is that he paid private detectives to find the boy and his mother because he missed his dear son, as he told others in the community. When the detectives found the mother and son – living at my house — rather than serve custody papers as he said he wanted them to do — he hired a couple to befriend her and a detective impersonating someone who was out to get me – to terrorize her.

I have the texts telling Kristin Keeffe that they were after me and were going to get me and that she and her son had better flee from my protection if she did not want to get burned badly.

I confronted the asshole, [and I still have the texts and shared them with Neil Glazer- permitting him to send them to EDNY.]

But the deception worked fine. Keeffe wound up fleeing and landed at another woman’s home, whose house she left shortly after, and went on the run again.

I later discovered who sent the texts when another detective involved in the case called me out of the blue before Raniere’s arrest to tell me about the plan to spy on Keeffe and her son.

.

Keith Raniere, photoshopped behind bars, prior to his being behind bars, by this publication.There is more to that story, but the two detectives wound up being clients of Glazer’s in an odd twist of events. As did Kristin Keeffe, who brought Glazer into the world of NXIVM.

I will explain it more fully later.

No, Raniere would not spend the lonely years waiting for Mariana, Nicki, or anyone else, but he never promised to be faithful. He promised the opposite.

As for his sons, he may never see either of them again. He is now spending the lonely years without any of his old followers. They have the freedom to move on. He does not. For that, we can be thankful.

It may take some time. The hope may need to be extinguished that he will be released. But today, there are a group of stalwart followers who dedicate themselves to Raniere’s release and hope to be successful.’

At the moment, they pin their hopes on the appeal, to be decided most likely this year in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and a long-promised Rule 33 whereby they will prove to the judge and everyone else that evidence was tampered with in the prosecution of Raniere and this will result in his immediate release.

Will this august body make the great and noble determination of where Keith Raniere will spend the best years of his life?

If, by chance, the appeal fails and the Rule 33 does not materialize, I will speculate that the followers will take it to the US Supreme Court, which in a landmark case, nine justices will see the light and set the Vanguard free with profuse apologies for the harm done and the nation will experience a new birth of freedom, and injustice will end all over the world.

Viva Executive Success!

About the author

Frank Parlato

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Maury
Maury
1 year ago

“Other than the names published in Frank Report, I imagine they would not know that their names were used. I suspect that Nancy tried so hard to keep her letters under seal.”

But nothing happened to Nancy when she did that anyway. Judge was too nice on the President of nxivm. And Lauren got no jail time and Michelle didnt even get charged. They used the nxivm network and collateral on politicians and prosecutors to walk away.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Frank, what will happen if Raniere doesn’t turn over the DOS materials Judge Garaufis has ordered him too?

rich
rich
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Doesn’t Keith have a power of attorney?

rich
rich
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Doesn’t Keith have an estate?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

Donde vive Mariana? En fiji?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Puta?!?!?

Clifton Parker
Clifton Parker
1 year ago

Frank, do you not consider Suneel Chakravorty as one who openly supports Raniere? If not…how/what would you label him?

An inquiring mind.
An inquiring mind.
1 year ago

What looks very eerie is that Clare is not giving up her legal action against you, Frank.

Makes me wonder if there are any hard-core followers apart from her, willing to harm others apart from you, in any way Raniere would dictate to them from his jail cell.

Does he still wield that much control over able and willing subjects?

animus liber
animus liber
1 year ago

Taking a case to the Supreme Court gets very expensive. First, you have to ask the court to hear the case. If you pay by the hour, which is common in Washington, you are probably looking at a cost of $250,000 at least. There is no upper limit, and costs in the millions are also possible, depending on the case and the effort involved. And that’s just to ask the Supreme Court to hear the case. If the justices agree, which is rarely the case, the sums involved are really high. Keith Raniere and his supporters and financiers are losers even before they get started. They will not reach their goal, they will never cross the finish line as winners.
That’s what you call success by NXIVM standards.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

What are the odds of the group that still is loyal to Raniere being successful at restarting NXIVM?

Do you think they could do it in the United States or have to move it to Mexico?

Any idea who in Mexico is still loyal to Raniere?

Will Raniere try to run NXIVM from prison?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

If they do free him, I would not recommend Mexico. They already arrested him once.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

I thought they only arrested him on a warrant for charges pending in the US.

Had there not been that Mexico would have been fine with him being there.

Now that the evidence is out of what Raniere has done to Mexican women, he might not be so welcome back into Mexico

Maybe he could hang out on Clare’s Island

I don’t think there’s a lot to worry about, he’s not getting out of prison

The Supreme Court isn’t going to hear his case either.

NXIVM tried to take a part of the Ross case to the Supreme Court and got shot down.

rich
rich
1 year ago
Reply to  Anonymous

They have already started under different MLM, coaching, and self help organizations. Do a report on where the Executive Success Program people went AFTER. There are so many different companies. Let’s start outing all of them!! ESP lives on.

Anonymiss
Anonymiss
1 year ago

Frank, I can no longer see or post comments when logged into the WordPress reader. I can only read the article.

Is that intentional?

Intentionally yours,

Anonymiss

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

Frank-
In a game of F’, Marry, Kill who would you pick out of the following:

1. Clare Bronfman
2. Toni Natalie
3. Nancy Salzman
***
I bet at this very moment you’re cringing. 😉

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

😂👍🏼

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

My comments keep getting reformatted into a ridiculous format

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

It only happens sometimes. Next time I’ll screen shot and send it to you

Nice Guys
Nice Guys
1 year ago

Anne, Great questions!!!
***

Frank, I thought Sara was trying to keep *Rainbow Cultural Gardens daycare going?

*Note: To new people, Rainbow Cultural Gardens was Raniere’s demented version of Montessori. It also practiced what some Israel Kibitz practice which is only allowing children to see their parents once a day.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Nice Guys

In addition, they were taught five different languages every day.

SIXTEEN FOLLOWERS??
SIXTEEN FOLLOWERS??
1 year ago

Or is it 15 plus 1 Bobblehead?

How pathetic is that ? Only 16 people openly support this guy? If he were a true intellectual, philosopher, author, inventor, or innovator, he would have retained a much larger following. Hell, there are still more people than that who support Charlie Manson to this day. The sum total of this asshats ‘career’ is these other 15 asshats and 1 bobblehead.

rich
rich
1 year ago

Can you republish these lists?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

And the DOS handbook, please?

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago

New photo very charismatic, definitely the one you should go with for your book jacket. Not kissing ass — it’s the truth.

The photographer is worth the money.

Pyriel
Pyriel
1 year ago

Frank – “The history of NXIVM, which survived about 200 years.”
200? Just how old is the mighty Vanguard, again?

Pyriel
Pyriel
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

😂🤣🤣

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
Reply to  Frank Parlato

To do so, Raniere would have to add an additional 80 years in prison to his existing sentence.

IMHO
IMHO
1 year ago

Frank, it’s not quite accurate to count the years Cami was a child. Or the 2 years that Daniela was in the room and had no access to her immigration and other legal documents. Or money. And a way to physically leave like a car or even a person to drive her somewhere.

IMHO

About the Author

Frank Parlato is an investigative journalist.

His work has been cited in hundreds of news outlets, like The New York Times, The Daily Mail, VICE News, CBS News, Fox News, New York Post, New York Daily News, Oxygen, Rolling Stone, People Magazine, The Sun, The Times of London, CBS Inside Edition, among many others in all five continents.

His work to expose and take down NXIVM is featured in books like “Captive” by Catherine Oxenberg, “Scarred” by Sarah Edmonson, “The Program” by Toni Natalie, and “NXIVM. La Secta Que Sedujo al Poder en México” by Juan Alberto Vasquez.

Parlato has been prominently featured on HBO’s docuseries “The Vow” and was the lead investigator and coordinating producer for Investigation Discovery’s “The Lost Women of NXIVM.” Parlato was also credited in the Starz docuseries "Seduced" for saving 'slave' women from being branded and escaping the sex-slave cult known as DOS.

Additionally, Parlato’s coverage of the group OneTaste, starting in 2018, helped spark an FBI investigation, which led to indictments of two of its leaders in 2023.

Parlato appeared on the Nancy Grace Show, Beyond the Headlines with Gretchen Carlson, Dr. Oz, American Greed, Dateline NBC, and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, where Parlato conducted the first-ever interview with Keith Raniere after his arrest. This was ironic, as many credit Parlato as one of the primary architects of his arrest and the cratering of the cult he founded.

Parlato is a consulting producer and appears in TNT's The Heiress and the Sex Cult, which premiered on May 22, 2022. Most recently, he consulted and appeared on Tubi's "Branded and Brainwashed: Inside NXIVM," which aired January, 2023.

IMDb — Frank Parlato

Contact Frank with tips or for help.
Phone / Text: (305) 783-7083
Email: frankreport76@gmail.com

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