Rajneesh (Osho)

1931–1990 · Indian (Kuchwada, Madhya Pradesh) · 20th Century

Known for: The guru who collected 93 Rolls-Royces, built a city in Oregon, and mixed enlightenment with scandal — the world's most controversial spiritual teacher

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later Osho) was an Indian spiritual teacher who attracted a global following with his eclectic mix of Eastern mysticism, Western psychology, and sexual liberation. He established Rajneeshpuram — a 64,000-acre commune in Oregon — that became one of the most ambitious and disastrous utopian experiments in American history.

The commune collapsed amid bioterror attacks (his followers poisoned salad bars in The Dalles, Oregon), assassination plots, wiretapping, and immigration fraud. Rajneesh was deported from the US in 1985. Despite this, his books and recorded lectures remain widely read, and his ashram in Pune, India, draws thousands of visitors annually. He renamed himself 'Osho' before his death in 1990.

Browse all 1,000 figures by category

Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.