11 Most Exclusive Private Clubs in America

10. The Knickerbocker Club

Location: New York

Founded in: 1871

The Knickerbocker Club was founded by dissatisfied members of the Union Club who felt that the Union went to the dogs and that their admission standards were too low. This tells you a thing about the Knicks founders when the admission process for one of the most ultra-conservative clubs in the country is simply subpar for them. Although two clubs reconciled their differences later and there was even talk of the merger back in the 1950s, in the end they remained separate entities with distinctive club policies. Among few things they share is the exclusivity and pickiness when it comes to admitting new members. Notable members include J.P. Morgan, David Rockefeller, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.