History Main / MysteriousEmployer

* Dr. Claw from ''InspectorGadget'' was so mysterious he and his nemesis Gadget never actually met (though Gadget heard his voice a few times and noted it 'sounds familiar'). The underlings he sent to kill Gadget usually only spoke to him via telescreens.

* The mysterious general manager of Wrestling/{{WWE}} ''Raw'', the [[InsistentTerminology "Anonymous RAW GM"]] "hired" after Bret Hart was fired from the position. S/he communicates in text messages that are read by MichaelCole.

* Mr. Hadden from ''TheLostCrown''. Not only are his motives unclear, but it becomes apparent that he's got Nigel under constant surveillance, possibly via supernatural means, and may not even be directing events from ''the same decade'' as Nigel.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* A few ''PowerRangers'' seasons did this, though it's very, very rare. Most notably the first few episodes of ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' with Dr. K (though she stopped being so mysterious relatively early on.)

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]

%%* Used to help drive the plot in ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith''.

* [[VoiceOfTheLegion Mr.]] [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Administrator]] of ''WebVideo/EchoChamber'' [[TheFaceless deliberately conceals his identity]] and motivations from the people he hired to create the TVTropes vlog, as well as the audience. None of the people working for him have ever met him. [[spoiler:Except Zack, who has apparently been meeting with him for some time, and hiding the fact from Tom and Dana.]]

* In Creator/WilliamGibson's ''[[Literature/BigendBooks Pattern Recognition]]'', ''Spook Country'', and ''Zero History'', Hubertus Bigend is this.

* In the ultra-violent WII game ''MadWorld'', Protagonist Jack is sponsored by a shadowy figure with a thick eastern European accent who calls himself "13". As the story progresses he reveals bits of information relevant to the ultimate purpose of "[=DeathWatch=]".

Very frequently TheChessmaster or, in the event of a group, the OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness.

[[folder:Film]]
* [[spoiler:Moriarty]] to Irene Adler in ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows''.
%%* Used to help drive the plot in ''Film/MrAndMrsSmith''.

* Ernst Stavro Blofeld is this in ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'', ''{{Film/Thunderball}}'', and the first half of ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice''

* Ernst Stavro Blofeld is this in ''Film/FromRussiaWithLove'', ''Film/Thunderball'', and the first half of ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice''

* Made up the premise of the old DCComics series ''ComicBook/SecretSix'', and to a certain extent the current incarnation of the same.

* [=O2STK=] in ''Series/TheMiddleman''. Wendy at first mistakes it for the name of a real organization, before Ida explains it's an acronym for "Organization to Secret to Know."

[[folder:Web Original]]
* [[VoiceOfTheLegion Mr.]] [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Administrator]] of ''WebVideo/EchoChamber'' [[TheFaceless deliberately conceals his identity]] and motivations from the people he hired to create the TVTropes vlog, as well as the audience. None of the people working for him have ever met him. [[spoiler:Except Zack, who has apparently been meeting with him for some time, and hiding the fact from Tom and Dana.]]
[[/folder]]

* [[spoiler:Moriarty]] to Irene Adler in the 2009 ''Film/SherlockHolmes'' film.

* This is an entire category of characters in ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', known in the biz as a "Mr. Johnson." They tend to work for a MegaCorp, and act as liaisons between the legitimate face of a company and our less than legal protagonists. One of the major mysteries behind each mission, for those who care to find out, is exactly ''who'' they are working for and what their motive is. Given the existence of twenty-first century cosmetics, hackers, counter-hackers, and possibly magic, many players would rather just GetOnWithItAlready.

* During the ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' storyline "True Believers", the super hero support group Excelsior had a mysterious benefactor who wanted them to rein in the kids. Turns out that it was [[spoiler:Rick Jones, former sidekick to the [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]] and CaptainAmerica]]. It's subverted, though, when the group got their own comic ''ComicBook/TheLoners'', somehow losing their support.

* In Creator/WilliamGibson's ''[[Literature/BigendBooks Pattern Recognition]]'' and ''Spook Country'', Bigend is this.

* [[spoiler:Moriarty]] in the 2009 ''SherlockHolmes'' [[Film/SherlockHolmes film]].
* Used to help drive the plot in ''MrAndMrsSmith''.

* Made up the premise of the old DCComics series ''SecretSix'', and to a certain extent the current incarnation of the same.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' - the team is given cryptic hints by a "Mr. E". Took a long time before we ever saw what he looks like.

* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' - the team is sent on missions by "Mr. E". Took a long time before we ever saw what he looks like.

* Mr. Pilgrim from ''SteelgripStarkeyAndTheAllPurposePowerTool''.