Threats Against High-Profile Figures Are Rising:
Here's How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
It's been years since the purple rain stopped falling, but the lessons I learned protecting one of music's biggest icons stay with me every day. During those years in Minneapolis, I was part of the team that kept Prince safe—moving through backstage hallways, watching crowds at packed shows, and staying alert during those electric performances where fans and artists connected through music and light. While everyone watched the star on stage, my eyes stayed on the crowd, looking for anything that didn't belong.
That's the strange reality of protection work—when everyone else is watching the spotlight, we're searching the shadows.
The New Landscape of Threat
Let's get straight to the point: threats against high-profile people have gotten much worse in recent years. The mix of political division, social media, and economic stress has created a situation where being famous or wealthy can quickly become dangerous.
What used to be an occasional concerning letter now comes as organized online attacks, personal information leaks, and bold attempts to approach private spaces. The online world and the physical world have merged into one continuous security challenge.
During my protection career, I've seen fan behavior evolve—from simple admiration to believing they have a personal connection. Social media has only made this worse for today's public figures.
The Three Circles of Protection
Security experts use what we call the "Three Circles" approach—a practical framework that brings order to what can feel like overwhelming security concerns:
Inner Circle: Personal Security Measures
Develop awareness of your surroundings as your first line of defense
Create clear communication plans with family members
Practice emergency responses
Avoid predictable daily routines
Middle Circle: Your Immediate Environment
Regularly check security at homes and offices
Install proper access controls to create safe zones
Train household staff on security protocols
Create safe rooms within your main homes
Outer Circle: The Extended Perimeter
Work with tech experts to monitor online threats
Build relationships with local police
Develop methods to evaluate potential threats
Use counter-surveillance when appearing in public
Strategic Visibility: The Public Figure's Dilemma
For CEOs, politicians, social media influencers, and public speakers, there's an inherent tension—your career demands visibility while security often suggests discretion. I still chuckle remembering the near-heart attack I had when Prince decided, on a whim, to visit Tower Records in New York City. (For the TikTok generation reading this: Tower Records was a legendary music retailer where people once physically went to buy music on large vinyl discs—imagine Spotify but with a building and actual human interaction.)
That impromptu Tower Records visit taught me volumes about the delicate dance between public persona and security. Prince navigated the space like water—flowing through crowds with practiced ease while my team scrambled to maintain a protective bubble around him. He signed autographs, chatted with stunned fans, and disappeared just as mysteriously as he'd arrived—all while we maintained invisible control of entry points, scanning for potential threats.
Politicians face this challenge daily—they must shake hands, kiss babies, and appear accessible while simultaneously managing very real threat profiles. Their visibility isn't just career-essential—it's constitutionally mandated. They can't disappear into the shadows like a reclusive artist might.
The concept of "controlled visibility" becomes essential for today's public figures. Rather than attempting the impossible task of becoming invisible, you strategically manage exposure and protection layers. Every appearance becomes a carefully choreographed security dance—the audience experiences the moment while remaining completely unaware of the invisible safety measures operating just beyond their perception.
For today's visible professionals, consider these practical approaches:
Separate your information into distinct categories—public, private, and family-only
Establish security routines that become as natural as breathing
Implement variable timing for regular appearances, even when routes remain consistent
Establish strict confidentiality protocols for everyone in your professional ecosystem
Family Protection: The Most Vulnerable Flank
I'll never forget getting a late-night call from a client worried not about themselves, but about a family member who had received disturbing messages from an obsessed person. This taught me an important truth: protecting your family requires different strategies than protecting yourself.
Your loved ones—especially children—are both your most vulnerable point and your highest priority. Consider these measures:
Teach family members age-appropriate security awareness
Have multiple ways to communicate in emergencies
Create secure transportation plans for school and activities
Train household staff to recognize and respond to threats
Digital Shadows and Real-World Threats
The digital world has completely changed how threats develop. Social media creates unprecedented visibility into famous people's lives, while encrypted messaging allows potential threats to be organized without being detected.
During my years in executive protection, I've witnessed the dramatic evolution of security challenges. What began as physical threats—handwritten letters and unauthorized access attempts—has morphed into something far more complex. Today's security landscape includes digital tracking, social media exploitation, and coordinated online harassment campaigns. The fundamental protection principles haven't changed, but the battlefield has expanded exponentially.
Today's complete protection requires:
Regular checks of what information about you is online
Social media training for family and staff
Using advanced privacy settings on all platforms
Monitoring dark web and fringe sites for threat indicators
When Threats Become Imminent
Think about those moments in thriller films where the protagonist suddenly senses something's wrong—the background music hasn't changed, nothing visibly shifts, but somehow they just know. That instinct isn't movie magic; it's a refined awareness that comes from experience and training.
In real-world protection, sensing when a threat pattern is escalating requires reading subtle signals. Watch for these warning signs:
Threats becoming more specific
Evidence someone is researching your personal details
Attempts to contact multiple people in your circle
Signs of surveillance or testing your security
When you notice these signs, it's time to get professional help. The best security response is proportional, discreet, and proactive rather than reactive.
The Psychological Element
Between shows on tour, I noticed how being under constant security affects high-profile individuals. There's a strange contradiction—being constantly visible yet often isolated.
Understanding the mental impact of living under threat is essential for both mental health and effective security. The constant vigilance required can create stress if not properly managed.
Consider setting up:
Regular security briefings that inform without causing fear
Mental health support for families affected by security measures
Clear boundaries between security and personal freedom
Times and places where protection is present but less noticeable
The Path Forward
Today's world demands a smart approach to personal and family security for high-profile individuals. The threats are real, growing, and increasingly complex—but they can be managed with the right approach.
As I learned during my years in protection work, the best security isn't about building walls—it's about creating systems that let exceptional people move through the world confidently while still fulfilling their purpose.
The most important step is simply recognizing the current reality and taking action before incidents happen. In protection work, we have a saying: the best security incidents are the ones that never happen.
The purple rain may have stopped, but the lessons from those years still guide me as I help today's public figures navigate an increasingly dangerous landscape.
Securing Your Future
If reading this article has activated your awareness of security vulnerabilities in your own life or organization, you don't have to navigate these challenges alone. Security isn't just about technical systems—it's about creating a comprehensive approach tailored to your specific needs and risk profile.
For a confidential consultation about your personal or organizational security needs, reach out to me at: https://www.bodyguardcareers.com/contact-bodyguard-careers/
Remember, in today's heightened threat landscape, proactive security isn't paranoia—it's prudence.