People often imagine secret societies with secret gatherings, doing bizarre rituals. This is why it's hard to imagine such cabals. But they do exist and might be pretty chill: people smoking cigars, drinking and discussing ways of making money from their position of power. We all do that. Happens that some are more rich and powerful
Yeah people can create “cartels” and leverage power cooperatively. But it’s unlikely there’s secret “top cartel” with no leaks and no challengers.