A conspiracy theory claiming that the Illuminati, a secret society founded in Bavaria in 1776, still secretly controls global politics and economics from the shadows.
The Illuminati (officially: the Order of the Bavarian Illuminati) was a secret society founded on May 1, 1776, by Adam Weishaupt, a professor at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany. Based on Enlightenment ideals, the organization sought to oppose superstition, religious authority, and political oppression.
The historical Illuminati was banned by the Bavarian government in 1785 and disbanded as an organization. However, conspiracy theorists claim that the group went underground and has since orchestrated everything from the French Revolution to the founding of the United States and modern international finance and politics. Their alleged ultimate goal is the establishment of a "New World Order."
The "Eye of Providence" (the all-seeing eye atop a pyramid) on the U.S. one-dollar bill is commonly cited as an Illuminati symbol. In reality, the design was adopted as part of the Great Seal of the United States in 1782 and derives from traditional Christian iconography representing divine providence.
Politicians, business leaders, and celebrities worldwide are persistently alleged to be Illuminati members. Hand gestures and stage designs are interpreted as "coded signals," but none of these claims are supported by verifiable evidence.
Letters written by Weishaupt and the organization's bylaws exist as genuine historical documents. They reveal the workings of the original society, but no documents have been found proving activity after the 1785 ban.
