It's a guest list that most conference organizers can only dream of, with attendees ranging from royalty to business leaders, spies to politicians. But this isn't any conference – this is the Bilderberg conference, a top-secret annual gathering attracting the richest and most powerful people from across the globe. Attendees at this year's Bilderberg meeting, which kicks off in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Thursday, include Google's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund.



Christine Lagarde Getty Images

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will also be in attendance, along with American diplomat Henry Kissinger and ECB Executive Board Member Benoît Coeuré.

One of the main draws of the conference, which was founded in 1954, is the high level of secrecy – despite the fact that a number of journalists are invited. Read MoreRich, Famous and Powerful Converge at Bilderberg

This is because meetings take place under what's known as "Chatham House Rules," meaning that people can use the information received, but can't reveal the identity or affiliation of the speaker. "Thanks to the private nature of the conference, the participants are not bound by the conventions of their office or by pre-agreed positions," the Bilderberg Meetings website said. "As such, they can take time to listen, reflect and gather insights."