Mike Rinder, an ex-Scientologist of the Church of Scientology International and an Emmy winner, passed away at the age of 69 on January 5, 2025. Rinder is significantly known for courageously exposing the Church of Scientology, to which he had dedicated 25 years of his life.
In his book, A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology, Mike Rinder details how he calculated escape after years of deep involvement in the church. In 2007, when he was 52 years old, he decided to leave the Church of Scientology after having reached a point where his faith in the organization began to unravel. In an interview with The Guardian, Rinder detailed how, being a high-ranking official of the church, leaving abruptly was not simple or safe and he needed to plan his exit meticulously.
To escape, Rinder simply walked out of the church’s office in central London, in what he later described as a deliberate and calculated move. He had only 200 in cash, his passport, and a credit card. Knowing that Scientology would try to track him down, Rinder immediately took steps to avoid detection. He removed the batteries from his phones, used only cash, and stayed on the move.
He made his way to a quiet place, where he could calm his nerves and think clearly. After a few days in London, he ditched his professional attire, bought new clothes, and stayed at a B&B near Victoria Station, marking the beginning of his new life outside the church.
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