Bohemian Grove, an encampment in California’s Sonoma County redwoods, draws some of the richest and most powerful American men in politics, culture, and business to a yearly retreat in July. The elite social club has recently faced a scandal regarding worker abuse, resulting in the settlement of a wage theft lawsuit brought by three of its employees.
Shawn Granger, Anthony Gregg, and Walid Saad sued the Bohemian Club and related companies in 2023 for allegedly violating California labor laws. The November 2023 lawsuit reported that employees were not provided meal breaks during the three-week-long event, nor were they paid minimum wage. They were also forced to work close to 100 hours per week, but were instructed by their employers to only clock 40 hours.
The mysterious, male-only event is held at a 2,700-acre camp outside Monte Rio and is rumored to culminate in a burning of a human effigy and a giant owl. The lawsuit was not settled until more bizarre claims about the event came out.
Allegedly, Anthony Gregg was asked by billionaire William Koch to “hand wash his underwear,” and was then made fun of by Bohemian club members for complying with the perverse request.
William Koch is estimated to have a net worth of $2 billion, according to Forbes. Brad Goldstein, William Koch’s spokesperson, vehemently denies the accusation, stating, “It was likely just an attempt to pressure the club’s owners into paying a settlement. ”He continues, “There’s no dates given in the alleged incident. There’s no detail, period. And given the fact that Mr. Koch is not a member of the club and is always confused with his brother, I doubt the veracity of the claim.”
The case was dismissed on July 15th after a confidential settlement was agreed between the club and the employees on July 10th.
Bohemian Grove has been the center of various conspiracy theories since it began 150 years ago, including allegations of human sacrifice. On the other hand, journalist Jon Ronson has reported that members shroud themselves in secrecy for nothing more than “an all-pervading sense of immaturity.” The club has had around 2,500 members over the course of its history, including some of the most powerful men in the US, such as former presidents Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon.
