David Miscavige Biography: Religion, Ethnicity, Age, Wikipedia, Net Worth, Wife, Parents, Siblings

David Miscavige is an American Scientologist who is serving as the second and current leader of the Church of Scientology. His official title within the organization is Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center.

However, he has faced numerous allegations of abuse and mistreatment from former members of the church, including physical and emotional abuse and holding individuals against their will. These allegations have been denied by the church and Miscavige himself.

Profile

• Full Name: David Miscavige
• Stage Name: David Miscavige
• Born: 30 April 1960
• Age: 65 years old
• Birthplace: Bristol, Pennsylvania, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American Scientologist
• Height: 5’7
• Parent: Ronald Miscavige and Loretta Miscavige
• Siblings: 3, Denise Licciardi, Lori Miscavige Vernuelle, Ronald Ralph Miscavige Jr.
• Spouse: Michele Diane “Shelly” Miscavige
• Children: unknown
• Relationship: married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life And Education

David Miscavige was born on 30 April 1960 in Bristol, Pennsylvania, United States, and was raised by his parents Ronald and Loretta Miscavige.

He grew up with three siblings: Denise Licciardi, Lori Miscavige Vernuelle, and Ronald Ralph Miscavige, Jr. Despite being of American descent and raised in a Christian family, Miscavige chose to devote his life to Scientology.

At age 16, he left traditional education to join the Sea Org, a Scientology organization and quickly rose in ranks to become a prominent figure within the church. His father stated that David became interested in Scientology as a teenager and made it his career and mission.

Career

David Miscavige’s career within the Church of Scientology has been marked by his early involvement in the late 1960s when his father introduced him to the religion. By the age of 12, he was already conducting auditing sessions and at 16, he left high school to join the Sea Organization (Sea Org), a dedicated religious order within Scientology.

Throughout his time in the church, Miscavige rose through the ranks, eventually becoming part of the elite Commodore’s Messenger Organization (CMO) which directly served Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. In his early roles, Miscavige performed tasks such as delivering telexes, groundskeeping, food service, and photography for promotional materials.

He also worked closely with Hubbard, serving as a cameraman for training films. By the age of 19, he had become an “action chief” responsible for ensuring compliance with organizational policies. However, despite his long and prominent career within the church, Miscavige has faced criticism and controversy surrounding his leadership and alleged mistreatment of members.

David Miscavige has been a controversial figure in the Church of Scientology since he played a key role in the removal of Mary Sue Hubbard, L. Ron Hubbard’s wife, from her leadership position in 1981. After L. Ron Hubbard died in 1986, Miscavige ascended to the position of leader within the church.

He was officially named “Chairman of the Board” of the Religious Technology Center (RTC) in 1987, a corporation that controls the trademarks and copyrights of Dianetics and Scientology. Within Scientology, Miscavige is referred to as “DM,” “COB,” and “Captain of the Sea Org.” Official Church of Scientology biographies also recognize him as the “ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion.”

However, his rise to power and actions as a leader have been criticized by former members and outsiders, causing controversy and division within the organization.

As Chairman of the Board of RTC, Miscavige holds the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the standard and pure application of L. Ron Hubbard’s technologies and for “Keeping Scientology Working.” He is seen as the de facto head of the entire Church of Scientology network of organizations, with a strong influence over the Church’s practices and policies.

Miscavige has spearheaded the “Ideal Org” strategy, aiming to transform all Scientology Churches into “Ideal Churches,” and has also been involved in launching the Scientology Network. However, Miscavige’s leadership has been met with controversy and numerous allegations, including accusations of human trafficking, child abuse, forced separation of families, coercive fundraising, and abuse of subordinates.

He is also known for his close relationship with celebrity Scientologist Tom Cruise, even serving as best man at Cruise’s wedding to Katie Holmes. These controversies have brought attention to the inner workings of the Church and raised concerns about the treatment of its members.

Award and Nomination

Recognition within Scientology:

• Ecclesiastical Leader: David Miscavige holds the title of “Ecclesiastical Leader of the Scientology religion” and Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC). The RTC is described as the most powerful executive organization within Scientology.
• Redefining “Religious Leader”: According to the Church of Scientology, Miscavige has “redefined the term religious leader” due to his role in directing a contemporary religion that has seen significant global expansion.
• Stewardship and Expansion: He is credited with steering the religion after the death of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, securing its religious recognition in the United States, and leading its global expansion.
• Preservation of Scientology: His primary task as Chairman of the Board of RTC is to “preserve, maintain and protect” the Scientology organization and ensure the standard application of Hubbard’s technologies.

Mentions of Awards Related to Scientology (but not directly to David Miscavige):

• The Truth Rundown: A series by the St. Petersburg Times that included allegations against Miscavige received journalistic awards, including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors.
• Religious Freedom Awards: The Church of Scientology has been involved in events recognizing religious freedom, where awards like a replica of the sword of El Cid have been presented to others. David Miscavige has not been explicitly mentioned as a recipient of these awards.
• Leah Remini’s Documentaries: Leah Remini, a vocal critic of Scientology, won Emmy awards for her documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.

Controversies and Legal Issues:

It’s important to note that David Miscavige’s leadership has been marked by significant controversy and numerous allegations, including:

• Abuse and Harassment: Allegations from former church members include physical and emotional abuse, as well as harassment.
• Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: He has been the subject of law enforcement investigations and ongoing lawsuits involving accusations of human trafficking, child abuse, and forced labor.
• Dodging Legal Summons: There have been reports and legal proceedings indicating that Miscavige has actively avoided being served with legal documents in various lawsuits.

Social Media

Facebook handle: David Miscavige

Personal Life

David Miscavige is an American Scientologist who is serving as the second and current leader of the Church of Scientology. David Miscavige married Michele Diane “Shelly” Miscavige (née Barnett) in 1982.

However, Shelly Miscavige has not been seen in public since August 2007, at her father’s funeral, leading to concerns and questions about her well-being. Despite these reports and allegations, David Miscavige has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that his wife is alive and well.

However, the Los Angeles Police Department stated in 2013 that they had located and spoken with Shelly after a missing person report was filed, but they provided no further details. This ongoing controversy has raised doubts about the true nature of Scientology and its practices.

Net Worth

David Miscavige has been the center of controversy and criticism surrounding the Church of Scientology and its practices. Despite this, he has maintained his position as the leader of the organization and has amassed a significant net worth of $2 million.

However, many question the source of his wealth and its potential connection to the organization’s controversial practices.