Our thanks to the tipster who got us the new Impact magazine right away, something we always look forward to. But please be aware, there are several things unusual about this newest publication from the International Association of Scientologists.
First, the timing. Each October, the IAS holds a big weekend party, usually in East Grinstead, England, and on Saturday night Scientology’s biggest donors — what we refer to as “whales” — are recognized with big gaudy trophies for reaching a new “status” level of giving during the past calendar year.
And even though those trophies are handed out in October, it’s usually not until some time in February that the issue of Impact comes out with photos from the event, and we get a chance to see who the new crop of biggest donors is and their new statuses.
So, it’s pretty unusual for us to be getting this magazine so early, and we don’t know why David Miscavige might have rushed its publication. Just a guess — might it have to do with the apocalypse of bad press caused by Leah Remini’s recently-completed second season of Scientology and the Aftermath? We don’t know.
But even stranger than that is to see who was named biggest contributor to the cause.
For years, it’s been the same family at the top, a dedicated clan that has given orders of magnitude more money than anyone else. We could always count on them getting the biggest trophy and the only photo that included Scientology leader David Miscavige.
And once again, it’s the Duggan family that has come out on top. But hang on, there’s something very off about this. Take a look…
“Trish Duggan and family?” Hey, where’s Bob?
Last year’s event (which was reported in the Impact that came out this February, at its usual time) featured Bob and Trish Duggan and their kids being recognized for the “Invictus” level of giving, which was invented for them. At that time, we estimated that it represented $80 to $90 million in cumulative donations to the IAS — which didn’t count their many other major donations to building projects around the world…
As we’ve pointed out numerous times before, Bob and Trish got into Scientology in the 1970s, and Bob has a long career as an investor and entrepreneur. But he really struck gold with a cancer drug put out by his company Pharmacyclics, which was subsequently bought for $21 billion by pharmaceutical giant AbbVie. Bob’s personal wealth went up almost to $4 billion (Forbes currently has him just under $2 billion). Also, Bob and Trish adopted a lot of children, and we reported a fairly strange story about that, which Bob has tried to have Google suppress.
We also learned earlier this year that in 2015, Bob and Trish put a million AbbVie shares into a foundation that is earmarked to give about $3 million a year to the Church of Scientology.
But now, in this new magazine reporting on an IAS gala that happened just a few weeks ago, Trish Duggan and her kids are being recognized for the same status, “Invictus,” which they reached last year. And that has us a bit confused. We can think of a few different scenarios.
1. Bob simply couldn’t make it to the IAS gala this year because of a previous commitment.
2. Bob and Trish split up, and Bob decided not to make the scene.
3. Bob and Trish split up, and Bob ditched Scientology.
We’re going to assume that #1 is far more likely than the other two, with #2 being far more likely than #3, which would really shock us.
Our numerous helpers are digging and digging, hoping we can find some answers to this question. If you know Bob or Trish, please tell them we’d love to know what’s going on.
UPDATE: Looks like it’s a split. Take a look at our update below.
So let’s move on to the other big donors who were recognized this past October.
Patron Excalibur ($20 million): Tom and Victoria Cummins and family of Florida. Last year Tom, an electricity free marketer, was recognized for donations totaling $11 million, which suggests that he forked over $9 million in just the past year.
Diamond Meritorious, with Honors ($7 million): Herb and Penny Zerden, of Florida.
Gold Meritorious, with Honors ($1.5 million): Herbert and Susanne Marks, of Germany.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Eva Baldarelli of Italy.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Vanesa Brylkin Civolani of Venezuala.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Shahab and Catherine Emrani of Oregon.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Bob Graves and Judy Norton of Los Angeles. You might remember Judy better from her days performing as Mary Ellen on The Waltons, which ran from 1972 to 1981…
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Chieko Mabe of Japan.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Hector Fabio Martinez of Venezuela.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Warren and LeAnn Meyer of Florida.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): The Ruscheweyh-Mayer family of Germany.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Giacomo Tiberio and Bruno Perugini and family, of Italy.
Gold Meritorious ($1 million): Christine Wright of Oregon.
Let’s hear it for this year’s whales!
And if you find Bob, please let us know.
UPDATE: We knew it wouldn’t take our helpers long. According to Pinellas County records (where Clearwater is, in Florida), Bob and Trish Duggan split up their properties back in February and March of this year.
In February, the couple deeded to Trish a 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath, 4,068-sq.-ft., $3.9 million home on Belleair Beach…
And in March, the couple deeded to Bob an 11,000-sq.-ft., $1.2 million office building in Clearwater…
So it looks like it is splitsville for Bob and Trish. But what does that mean for Bob’s “Invicta” status? Does he stop getting trophies as one of Scientology’s biggest donors?
And is Grant Cardone now Bob’s wingman as Bob goes in search for his next Scientology sweetheart?
What an adventure.
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 4,949 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 95 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,158 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 1,932 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,706 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,052 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,546 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,586 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,298 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 824 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,913 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,053 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,373 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,348 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 704 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,006 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,112 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,515 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,388 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 969 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,474 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,718 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,827 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 2017 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
