The OT 8 life: Grant Cardone on Scientology, Money, and Xenu

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We want to thank the correspondent who took one for the team and actually watched Grant Cardone’s new interview on Vlad TV, focusing on the segment when he was asked about being one of Scientology’s biggest donors. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“Org staffs are made up of individuals. The better the case shape of each individual staff member, the more viable the org. If an org is going to prosper, its staff must be getting audited, making case gain and actively progressing on the Grade Chart. Failure to use the tech on one’s own staff is one of the fastest ways to allow the tech to go out or slip into disuse or become alter-ised. Staff need a reality on the tech they work so hard to deliver—not just those technically trained who do the actual delivery but those working in admin capacities as well. And quite apart from the fact that inattention to staff cases will result in a failing org and dwindling viability and potential, is the fact that staff members work hard and deserve the benefit of the tech they are handling and making available to others.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980

 
——————–

Source Code

“Scientology is liable to be around for a long time, because that really isn’t a split terminal. Somebody’d have to dream one up which ran a parallel to get a total throw-out of the subject called Scientology. But then it throws itself out, which is the only thing that makes it safe to have around. Probably the only subject on Earth today which solves itself without liability or continuance of itself, which is quite interesting. It’s a safe subject.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 4, 1957

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Odd time of the year to speak about Christmas. But in this case it’s a statistic. Public Popularity increase over the world was very marked this last Christmas. The general public response was up very nearly 35% over previous years. The volume of public cards to me personally would indicate an increased popularity of Scientology by a full third! Gifts were 40 – 45% higher than in previous years. While it was a joy hearing from so many at the time, now in retrospect, it can be viewed as confirming a general public upsurge. My hard working personal staffs here and in other areas were impressed with the increase. In previous years it was already enormous. My staffs work for many weeks after Christmas caring for the flow, the address corrections and tabulations and do an excellent job of it. So the full picture is now in and the fact emerges. Public Popularity has increased a full third.” — The Commodore, February 4, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Is religion and spirituality all part of the trap to keep us down involved in MEST as we appear to be? Auditing is the only answer to get rid of charge. It is that which holds us trapped and doing crazy things. If we wait until we can do it perfectly, we won’t ever do it. A lot of engrams got run from those who simply read DMSMH and did it even poorly. If we fight the Corp Church we take our eyes off the ball, create a game and problem that will hang in time and achieve nothing. Let’s just get on with clearing the planet. The church tells us to be careful: That’s suppression. LRH gave us a gift. Let’s get busy and use it. It is the most fun you can have.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1998: The St. Petersburg Times carried a story this week on the suicide of Scientologist Patrice Vic and the trial in which Scientologists were convicted in relation to his death. “Mrs. Vic blames her husband’s death on the Church of Scientology; the church’s top official in Lyon badgered her husband to come up with $6,000 to take more Scientology counseling. Jean-Jacques Mazier, the Scientology official, was convicted of manslaughter and fraud in Vic’s death. The French court also ruled that Scientology was pressuring members for money that wound up in Clearwater, where the church maintains its spiritual headquarters. The charges against Mazier and several other Scientologists centered on the way they pressured prospective members who needed help. Testimony also described foreign bank accounts that were used to send money to Clearwater, where it paid for training of high-level Scientology officials. On the day before her husband’s death, Mrs. Vic testified, Mazier came to their home in Lyon and urged her to sign loan papers for the money. She said her husband became highly agitated, paced the house and went to the Scientology center in Lyon instead of going to his job as an industrial designer. After spending a day with Mazier and failing to convince his wife to help obtain the loan, Vic returned home looking for papers so he could apply for the loan by himself, Mrs. Vic said. ‘He was just coming in and out, very agitated,’ she said. ‘He kept getting up out of bed, he was unable to sleep.’ At 5 a.m. as she tried to stop him, Vic dashed toward the window in the room where their two sons were sleeping. ‘He said ‘Don’t keep me, it’s the only solution,’ and he went through the window, she told the Times. Patrice Vic was 31.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Raining on other people’s parades is one of my specialties.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
——————–

 
Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, Scientology Black Ops: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Celebrity endorsements for Scientology’s Narconon drug rehab are back!
[TWO years ago] Val Ross: Scientology draws you in so you don’t realize what it’s about until it’s too late
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Mark ‘Warrior’ Plummer remembers Scientology’s deceptions
[FOUR years ago] Here’s Scientology’s petition for rehearing in Masterson lawsuit, arguing that court blew it
[FIVE years ago] Scientologist David Gentile charged by feds in $1.8 billion Ponzi-like fraud scheme
[SEVEN years ago] Mark Bunker: Clearwater’s Officer (now Chief) Slaughter oversaw the Scientology detail
[EIGHT years ago] Are you Sci-Curious? Here’s Scientology’s 2018 Super Bowl ad
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Super Bowl ad: Here’s your sneak peek at what it’s going to be like
[TEN years ago] When David Miscavige was riding high with ‘The Basics’ — Scientology’s 2008 New Year’s event!
[ELEVEN years ago] LEAH REMINI IN TALKS TO SUE SCIENTOLOGY: MIKE RINDER TESTIMONY
[TWELVE years ago] It’s a make-or-break day for Monique Rathbun vs Scientology in a Texas courtroom
[THIRTEEN years ago] Best Twitter Reactions to Scientology’s Super Bowl Ad

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on February 4, 2026 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.

Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone