Mike Rinder, the former Scientology bigwig turned whistleblowing extraordinaire, has taken his final bow at the age of 69. His wife, Christie King Collbran, delivered the news on Instagram, managing to make everyone cry while simultaneously inspiring future critics of “billion-year contracts.”
An Instagram Goodbye: “You Were the Stability We Didn’t Know We Needed”
Christie broke the news in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday. She described Mike as a “stable force” in everyone’s life. (Honestly, if there’s a LinkedIn badge for that, Mike would’ve earned it.)
She kept the cause of death private, but it’s known that Mike was battling esophageal cancer, a fight he disclosed last year. Christie’s post also included a touching message from Mike, proving once and for all that even in death, this man had the emotional depth of a Nicholas Sparks protagonist.
Mike’s Final Words: Two Lives, One Mission
In his parting message, Mike said he’d lived “two lives in one lifetime,” with the second being the most fulfilling. (Translation: ditching Scientology was the ultimate glow-up.) He expressed regret about not fully dismantling Scientology’s alleged abuses, including the infamous “disconnection” policy, and encouraged others to “keep the flag flying” against these practices.
You can’t make this stuff up—this guy was giving us Braveheart vibes from his deathbed.
Billion-Year Contract? Yeah, That’s a Thing
For those unfamiliar, Rinder was raised in Australia’s Scientology bubble and signed a billion-year contract (yes, with nine zeros) to join the church’s inner circle. He climbed the ranks, eventually becoming the international spokesperson and head of their shady-sounding “Office of Special Affairs.” But by 2007, he decided to swap out the church’s secrets for a tell-all book deal. Smart move.
The Tom Cruise Chapter
In his 2022 memoir, A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology, Mike spilled tea hotter than the sun. He claimed the church was worried about Tom Cruise’s loyalty during his marriage to Nicole Kidman. (We all knew Tom’s marriage to Nicole was a Hollywood rom-com; turns out it was also a church thriller.)
Hollywood Goes Emmy-Winning on Scientology
Mike wasn’t done after the book. He joined forces with Leah Remini to cohost Scientology and the Aftermath, an Emmy-winning series that aired in 2016. Together, they peeled back the curtain on the church’s alleged abuses. Think of it as the true-crime series you didn’t know you needed, minus the murder—though the drama was just as intense.
The Church Responds (Predictably)
In true Scientology fashion, their official website dismissed Mike faster than a bad Yelp review. They called him “not a credible source” and claimed he hadn’t stepped foot in a church in over a decade. (Uh, yeah, that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?)
We reached out to Scientology for comment, but—spoiler alert—they haven’t responded. Maybe they’re too busy drafting the next billion-year contract?
Final Thoughts
Mike Rinder lived a life so wild, it could’ve been a Netflix series. He went from Scientology’s golden boy to one of its loudest critics, all while battling cancer, spilling tea about Tom Cruise, and winning Emmys. Rest in peace, Mike. You may not have fully toppled Scientology, but you gave it a solid shake—and for that, we salute you.
