: Founded by a professor of religious law, the group aimed to promote Enlightenment ideals , such as reason, philanthropy, and secularism, while countering the influence of religious and political authority .
: Famous figures in music and film—notably Beyoncé and Jay-Z —are frequently accused of being members, though such claims have been denied and are often criticized as attempts to invalidate the success of influential artists .
: The modern version was largely popularized by 20th-century works like The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea, which blended real history with satirical fiction, and Dan Brown's Angels & Demons . what is the illuminati
The was a real secret society founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, by Adam Weishaupt .
The (Latin for "enlightened") refers to both a verified historical secret society and a widely popularized modern conspiracy theory regarding an elite group seeking world domination . The Historical Order (1776–1785) : Founded by a professor of religious law,
Despite its historical dissolution, the concept of the Illuminati resurfaced as a central fixture of conspiracy fiction and pop culture .
: Members called themselves "Perfectibilists" and adopted ciphers and grades similar to Freemasonry . Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea,
: Contemporary theorists often claim the Illuminati survived and now consists of a shadowy cabal of international bankers, politicians, and media moguls working toward a "New World Order" or global government .