Challenge: Plausible Illuminati

Challenge of this is to make a plausible "Illuminati", only this time, I'm not talking about the ACTUAL faction that existed before being disbanded in the 1780s but the Malign conspiracy existing in the minds of the insane that wants to take over the world.

How could such a faction exist, and gradually exert it's dominance as long as it wants?

What is the plausibility of such a faction existing, and how could it come to power? Remember, the Illuminati in these conspiracy theories is a covert shadow group manipulating governments so don't expect it to go all out like the Draka or something.
 
Challenge of this is to make a plausible "Illuminati", only this time, I'm not talking about the ACTUAL faction that existed before being disbanded in the 1780s but the Malign conspiracy existing in the minds of the insane that wants to take over the world.

How could such a faction exist, and gradually exert it's dominance as long as it wants?

What is the plausibility of such a faction existing, and how could it come to power? Remember, the Illuminati in these conspiracy theories is a covert shadow group manipulating governments so don't expect it to go all out like the Draka or something.
the real question is, why would they need to hide?
if they had that much power and wealth they wouldn't need to.
 
What makes you think they don't already exist. There are obviously groups of people who exert inmeasurable influence over economy and politics in many countries across the world, and such groups that most probably exist in the United States specifically would by proxy influence the rest of the world.
 
Illuminism (The Bavarian Illuminati's ideology) becomes popular in Europe during the late 1770s to 1800s and has a few states become Illuminist states. With enough, people will start to see Illuminist parties worldwide.
 

Rex Mundi

Banned
Governments and business interests themselves effectively do everything the Illuminati is accused of (within the bounds of possibility). It's an 'open' conspiracy.
 
Top