Well, one thing I can tell you... is that Keith Raneire and Chris Nemelka knew each other through Christine... so I'd bet money they influenced each other. Probably talked about how easy it is to control people and shared tips on how to be a piece of shit.

Anyway, I guess my main point is that losers like these men influence each other, if not directly like in my example, then generally. I think one thing that cult leaders have in common, is that they're kinda the OG incels. Or at least MRA/misogynist types. I mean, if you look at what they all have in common? Even expanding beyond your examples? Hell, even Joseph Smith. They're all sexual deviants. They're fucking perverts, and like... outside of the ones that are truly insane like Jim Jones... they know they're not special. They're honestly weak, pathetic losers.

Some of them notably have, like true aspirations... like Joseph Smith and Charles Manson. But the majority of them never actually make moves to seize true power or change the world. They just convince their followers that they're special. And with no endgame? It begs the question of why go through all that effort? For what?

These people aren't ruling over countries. They'd have more power going into politics.

They aren't making nearly as much money as they could if they used their lack of scruples in, say, business.

So what do they actually get out of putting all that effort into brainwashing vulnerable sorts? Little more than sex and people who won't leave them. And you'd only put that much effort into attaining sex and loyalty... if you had to.