And that’s not anything.

He is not a top mod, being present on a mod list doesn’t imply control.

Someone of those power users was top mod for one of the subs I knew of - had 0 moderating impact or activity.

Cyxie is mod 14 on r/pics. Hardly a position of influence and power.

That depends on how much policing over the other mods (specially those above you) the rest of the team enforces. If the mods generally don't mess with another mods decisions, or if people don't complain (I've posted complaints after a post of mine was unfairly deleted from a sub) they can "get away" with whatever action they take.

Sure, and that’s a far cry from the click bait claim that “5 mods control 92 of the top 500 Reddits.”

It’s not even a statement of actual harm- just that in case the teams don’t check, these guys could be getting away with removing stuff and therefore exerting some form of control.

There may be some kernel, of truth, just to be absolutely and needlessly generous with the claim.

However the truth is not going to be close, by a galactic mile, to the worthy of the drama with which this topic has been en-robed.

I‘ve been a mod. If a shadowy mod had the ability to enforce their will effectively over a single sub, let alone multiple teams - frankly they would be amazing and should write books on their team management, work ethic and obsession.