Illuminati

The Illuminati (plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") are a secret society of people whose goal is to control the world from 'behind the scenes'.

History
The Illuminati were founded by Adam Weishaupt in 1776. They have been controlling the world in secret for centuries. In 2027, Prior to the events of Deus Ex, set in 2052, Lucius DeBeers stepped down from active leadership due to health problems and was put in stasis by his successor Morgan Everett. Everett's former protégé, Bob Page, became disillusioned with the Illuminati and broke away to form the splinter group Majestic-12, and the Illuminati's bankers and treasurers, the Knights Templar, were destroyed by Interpol with the help of Joseph Manderley.

2027
Utilizing the vast resources at their disposal, the Illuminati seek to impede progress made in mechanical augmentation research through clandestine military operations (Belltower Associates, Tyrants) and manipulation of the media (Picus TV).

2052
The Illuminati are at risk of being overthrown by Majestic-12, and attempt to recruit JC Denton to help them defeat the splinter group. They also fund and control both the NSF and the French resistance group Silhouette.

After the Collapse
Morgan Everett has either died or stepped down as leader, and Nicolette DuClare and Chad Dumier take over as new leaders. They form the capitalist WTO and its rival, the Order Church, a religious group, to disguise their true intentions of controlling the world. Paralleling this, they also own two rival coffee shops, Pequod's and Queequeg's. If Alex chooses to help them, they bring about a new era of control called the 'Age of Light', where they control the entire world from a space station.

Illuminati