X-Files: Every Major Syndicate Member (And What Happened To Them)
The shadowy, villainous cabal known as the Syndicate had many members on The X-Files, and here's what happened to all of them. It's well-known, even among those who weren't regular viewers, that X-Files' lead FBI agent partners Fox Mulder and Dana Scully were first and foremost after one thing: discovering and revealing the truth. After all, the show's slogan was "The Truth Is Out There." The primary force working against them finding out those truths was the Syndicate, most directly personified by the iconic Cigarette-Smoking Man.
For the first six seasons of The X-Files - and arguably in an unofficial capacity afterward - Mulder and Scully's efforts were hampered by the Syndicate at every turn, and for very specific reasons. As would be revealed eventually, the members of the Syndicate were working to facilitate the invasion and colonization of Earth by a race of aliens, and had even brokered deals to survive said invasion. The aliens planned to invade with or without human help, so the Syndicate figured that if they couldn't beat them, they would join them.
The Syndicate's alien colonization plan looked to have fallen apart during The X-Files season 6, but as would be shown later on, that wasn't entirely the case. Either way, the legacy of the Syndicate will never be forgotten in the X-Files universe, coloring every conspiracy its agents have or will ever uncover. Here's a look at every major member of the Syndicate group, and what their ultimate fate was.
While the Cigarette-Smoking Man, aka Carl Gerhard Busch Spender, was the most visible antagonist working as part of the Syndicate, it's sometimes easy to forget he wasn't the group's clear leader. In fact, CSM seemed to be in a near constant struggle for power within the Syndicate, especially when it came to his oddly protective behavior toward Mulder, later revealed to be his biological son. Still, CSM was one of the only Syndicate members to survive season 6's pivotal "Two Fathers, One Son" two-part episode, which saw a rebel sect of aliens take out those humans working toward colonization. The Cigarette-Smoking Man has appeared to die several times since, most recently in The X-Files' season 11 finale, where he's shot by Mulder.
While Alex Krycek consistently worked for the Syndicate under the command of CSM for many years, he was in reality more of a mercenary than anything. Krycek was first introduced as a replacement partner for Mulder in the FBI while Scully was missing, but it was quickly revealed where his true allegiances lied. Krycek's main role is as an assassin, personally killing Mulder's thought to be father Bill, and Scully's sister Melissa. After being betrayed by CSM, Krycek attempted for a while to play both sides where it suited him. Krycek proved hard to kill, but finally did die at the end of season 8, shot in the head by Walter Skinner.
Marita Covarrubias was first introduced on The X-Files as one of Mulder's many mysterious government informants, with ties to the United Nations. In reality, she was also working for the Syndicate, who didn't take kindly to finding out that she'd given useful information to Mulder. As a punishment, Covarrubias was later infected with the alien Black Oil virus, although she was eventually cured with an experimental vaccine. Covarrubias would go on to closely align with Krycek, with the pair unsuccessfully attempting to murder the Cigarette-Smoking Man. Covarrubias last appeared in the season 9 finale, summoned to appear at the trial of Fox Mulder. As far as has been revealed, she's still alive in the present.
Named after a famous informant during the Watergate scandal, Deep Throat was actually a Syndicate member named Ronald Pakula. A complex character, he worked with Mulder to try and expose some truths, but also wished to keep others under wraps. Deep Throat ended up shot and killed for betraying the Syndicate, but managed to save Mulder's life as his final act during The X-Files' season 1 finale.
X was another member of the Syndicate working in a high-level position that chose to leak information to Mulder about certain things, essentially taking Deep Throat's place after his death. X, who's true identity was never revealed, had a much more combative relationship with Mulder though, as he was determined not to end up like his predecessor, and refused to help Mulder past a certain extent. Despite that, he did save Mulder's life more than once. Sadly, he too ended up shot by Syndicate assassins for his treachery.
While Knowle Rohrer wasn't introduced until after the original Syndicate was torn asunder during season 6, he was most definitely a key figure in what remained of the alien colonization conspiracy. Rohrer served in the Marines alongside future X-Files agent John Doggett, but was recruited into a program to make Super Soldiers, alien-human hybrids comparable to Terminators. Rohrer proved hard to kill, even though the season 9 finale framed Mulder for his murder. Rohrer would attempt to kill CSM, Mulder, Scully, Doggett, and Reyes, but died after exposure to a mineral called Magnetite, which is hazardous to Super Soldiers.
A top-level Syndicate leader, Conrad Strughold was introduced in The X-Files: Fight the Future movie, and actually never appeared on the show proper. Strughold is hinted to have Nazi ties in his past, and is one of the few Syndicate members to actually have a friendly relationship with the Cigarette-Smoking Man. Strughold wasn't killed as part of the "Two Fathers, One Son" massacre, but it's unclear what became of him afterward. Considering his resources, though, it's likely he's still alive.
The Well-Manicured Man was, as might be surmised from his title, never given a proper name on The X-Files. He was usually seen taking part in backroom Syndicate discussions, and often came off as more level-headed than people like the volatile Cigarette-Smoking Man. As such, the two never got along well. The British-accented man eventually flipped sides, helping Mulder find a vaccine needed to cure Scully of a Black Oil infection. Knowing he would surely be killed in response, he instead died via car bomb suicide.
The First Elder is another Syndicate member to never be given a proper name, but thanks to his unique look and voice, the character still made quite an impression in X-Files history. The First Elder is actually the person who set the trap that exposed X's betrayal and work with Mulder, leading to X's aforementioned assassination. He also later orchestrated a hit on CSM himself, but as usual, CGB Spender managed to survive. The First Elder died along with most of the Syndicate members in "Two Fathers, One Son."