Misconfigured website data and a separately leaked registration list have led to the discovery of Dialog, a private network co-founded by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, according to multiple reports. 

The private group consists of high-profile individuals such as U.S. officials, tech executives, military leaders, and Hollywood figures.

What is Dialog and who is in it? 

Dialog is a private network that was founded in 2006 by Thiel and data-broker executive Auren Hoffman. It operated for two decades with no public membership list and no externally accessible website until Swiss hacktivist Maia Arson Crimew, who is known for previous high-profile leaks, including exposing the U.S. government’s No Fly List, found an exposed directory on Dialog’s website and published information about it after receiving an anonymous tip. 

WIRED magazine independently verified the leak and then obtained a separate registration list for the group’s planned 2026 retreat, scheduled for August 12 to 16 near Dublin, Ireland from a  confidential source. That list contains 222 members of Dialog sorted by their membership status and attendee type.

The names on the list include high-profile individuals from the government, finance, entertainment, and defense sectors. NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, for instance reportedly has an attendance history that stretches back to 2021. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senators Ted Cruz and Cory Booker, and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale also appear on the list. However, none of these individuals used government email addresses to register, so their participation falls outside public-records disclosure requirements.

Actors Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “One Tree Hill” star Sophia Bush, music manager Scooter Braun, and A24 partner Scott Belsky were identified among those connected to Dialog. 

Several other named individuals have also attempted to distance themselves from the group. For instance, the European Commission told EUobserver that the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, who appeared on the directory, is not a member and does not plan to attend the Dublin event.

Connecticut Representative Jim Himes told WSHU he attended a single Dialog conference roughly a decade ago and has had no involvement since. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said through a spokesperson that he does not know why his name appeared on the organization’s site and does not recall attending any of its events. 

Josh Brolin also denied involvement with a representative, stating he didn’t understand his inclusion. 

How are Dialog members graded? 

Internal documents obtained by WIRED reveal that Dialog assigns each person a letter grade of A, B, or C before they ever attend. 

The “C” designation is reserved for the most prominent and wealthy, and went to roughly one in seven of the 192 files WIRED examined, while the vast majority received a “B.” 

Candidates are evaluated based on wealth, public recognition, and perceived influence, and even metrics like their assets under management and Instagram follower counts are considered.

The lower-graded attendees are expected to pay full price for retreats, which can exceed $10,000 while higher-graded members receive discounts. The internal records also describe a “post-retreat code review,” where scores are revised after each event. 

Members who are flagged for low value or poor cultural fit may not receive another invitation.

Dialog’s gatherings are structured around small-group, moderated discussions with eight to twelve participants. The Dublin agenda includes sessions on nuclear energy, battlefield technology, World War III preparedness, disinformation, and Taiwan’s role in the AI race.

The sessions also included more lighthearted titles like “How’s Your Sex Life?” and “Build-a-Cult” which is to be moderated by the founder of Christian networking platform Pray.com, and “Money (Does?) Buy Happiness.” 

About 10% of attendees opt into a matchmaking pool, where Dialog staff and algorithmic tools pair singles with one another.

If you’re reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.