Messiahs, madness, and mass delusion! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots explores three cult leaders who proved that charisma and megalomania make the perfect recipe for disaster.

First up: David Koresh, the guitar-playing prophet who transformed a quiet religious community into the Branch Davidians, stockpiling weapons in Waco, Texas whilst claiming divine authority and multiple wives, culminating in a 51-day FBI siege that ended in tragedy.

Then we meet Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as Osho), the Indian guru whose followers built a utopian city in rural Oregon, complete with a fleet of Rolls-Royces, free love philosophy, and a bioterror attack that poisoned 751 Americans with salmonella in the largest such attack in US history.

Finally, Claude Vorilhon rounds out our line-up: the French race car driver turned prophet who claims aliens created humanity, renamed himself Rael, and built the Raelian Movement around messages from extraterrestrials, cloning controversies, and a surprisingly large international following.

From compound sieges to bioterrorism to UFO religions, these self-proclaimed messiahs prove that absolute conviction plus zero self-awareness equals catastrophic consequences.

Join Lev and Derek as they count down the greatest hits of history's most spectacularly deluded cult leaders.

Perfect for true crime fans, cult history enthusiasts, and anyone who's ever wondered how charismatic narcissists convince thousands to follow them into absolute chaos.

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Artist: Sarah Chey

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Animation: Daniel Wilson

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Music: Andrew Wilson

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