Rick Ross

Expert on celebrity cults

Rick Ross is the founder and Executive Director of the Ross Institute of New Jersey, a nonprofit corporation and tax-exempt educational institution devoted to the study of destructive cults, controversial groups and movements.

An internationally known cult expert, Ross has been researching controversial groups since 1982. He is currently the most quoted expert on cults in the world today and sought as a source by celebrity reporters at the NY Post, NY Daily News, MSNBC, Blender, FHM, and TV shows such as Extra and Inside Edition. Ross has also appeared on Oprah, Nightline, The Today Show, Good Morning America and MTV as well as Japanese and European national television, and been quoted by Time, Newsweek and the Associated Press

Ross is an expert consultant, lecturer and intervention specialist regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. He has worked with hundreds of families, mental health professionals, attorneys, clergy, law enforcement and each year responds to thousands of inquiries. Ross has been qualified and accepted as an expert witness across the United States in numerous court cases. His testimony has typically focused upon the behavior of destructive groups, their persuasion techniques and undue influence.

Ross has lectured at Dickinson College, the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, Baylor and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Ross’ multimedia presentation takes audiences on a trip through celebrity cults, specifically. Beginning with the Beatles breathless embrace of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to Madonna's conversion and submersion in the Kaballah Centre, celebrities and "cults" have been the focus of countless news stories and endless public fascination. He touches upon ever-growing list of Hollywood stars committed to Scientology, Mel Gibson’s lifelong involvement in an anti-Vatican fringe group that inspired his film “The Passion,” River Phoenix’s tragic death at 26 tied to a notorious sex cult called the “Children of God,” and more.