Tales of ordinary citizens finding themselves in the drug trade have played out several times both on the small screen and the big screen, but Ozark takes a different spin by making it all about the money rather than the drugs. Money breeds power, and, as a result, several predominant forces have emerged on the show, from the Missouri Ozarks all the way to Mexico.
Some of the characters have way more power than the rest. The influence that these characters have can also be broken down into social power, financial power, and political power. The lucky few are equipped with all three kinds of power, and, since the majority of them are no law-abiding citizens, they are more than glad to use their power to keep on breaking laws.
Charles Wilkes
The Kansas City tycoon is a power player who made his fortune selling agricultural equipment. The Byrdes seek him out as they try to get the construction of a casino approved.
Wilke's financial might is unmatchable, even for the other richest characters in Ozark. He has enough cash reservoirs to make large donations to GOP candidates every single election without sniffing bankruptcy. His wealth has enabled him to become a respected figure in the political world since every candidate he donates to becomes his toy. Anyone seeking to do business in Kansas must have his blessing, too, or else their entrepreneurial ambitions remain a fantasy.
Helen Pierce
On paper, the Chicago-based attorney serves as the official lawyer of the Navarro carte, but, in reality, she is more of a consigliere. When she is introduced, she is sent to the Missouri Ozarks to make sure the Byrdes don't go back on their promise to launder money for the cartel.
Helen's role on the show is basically that of a supervisor, and she bosses the Byrdes with every chance she gets. She has direct contact with Omar Navarro, whereas Marty and Wendy only get to talk to him when he chooses to call them. Helen's high rank means she is also allowed to use the cartel's enforcers for how own personal reasons. An example of this is when Ben makes one of the worst character mistakes in Ozark by telling Helen's daughter that her mother is a criminal. Angry, Helen quickly sends a cartel hitman to kill Ben.
Del
The Navarro cartel lieutenant makes a deal with Marty to launder money in the Missouri Ozarks in the pilot episode. To him, any offense is punishable by death, and it's for this reason that he murders Marty's business associates in Chicago.
Del's authority is a true measure of his power. Though he is not the boss, Del can make key decisions the man at the top. He can make deals on behalf of the cartel and murder anyone without seeking approval first. That's why he agrees to Marty's proposal to try Missouri where there are few FBI boots on the ground. He makes a casino deal with the Snells too, though insulting them costs him his life.
Frank Cosgrove
To the public, Frank is a trucking company owner, but, behind closed doors, he is the head of the Kansas City mob. It's Buddy, one of the most likable characters in Ozark, who introduces Frank to the Byrdes since casinos and the mob go hand in hand.
As has been a tradition in the American mafia, Frank controls the labor unions in his crime jurisdiction. He has eyes and ears everywhere, and, when Marty tries to go behind his back, his office gets blown up. Frank has also instilled so much terror in Kansas that no one is willing to cross anyone related to him. His son, Frank Cosgrove Jr., makes a habit of offending everyone, but no one will do anything about it because they fear punishment by the big bad mafioso.
Sheriff Nix
The Sheriff knows just about every criminal in the Missouri Ozarks. He bullies all the petty lawbreakers and locks them up but keeps the big-league players as associates.
As Sheriff, Nix controls just about every major institution in the area. When Darlene requests him to have Ben released from the psychiatric facility, he is able to do that very quickly. He shuts down a factory too when the owners refuse to work with the Snells. Another interesting detail that emerges is that Nix's deputies normally do all the dirty work for him as he collects the proceeds. This illustrates how much control he has within the police force.
Omar Navarro
He is the head of the most powerful cartel in Mexico. Unfortunately, his position has made him a target for both law enforcement and rival cartels in his homeland.
Omar is constantly hunted, but that isn't a problem for him since he has a larger army of people working for him. From dirty cops to sicarios to politicians, he's got every area covered. As a cartel boss, financial power has also come organically for him. Whenever someone comes to visit him, he has to organize a private jet for them.
Darlene Snell
Darlene and her husband Jacob are the major dealers in the Ozarks before the Navarro Cartel shows up, courtesy of Marty and Wendy. Darlene remains skeptical about dealing with them and even goes on to murder her husband.
Throughout the series, Darlene is shown to have control over a lot of people. She has Bobby, the owner of the Blue Cat Lodge, laundering her money and Sheriff's deputies on her payroll. She is also extremely wealthy, evident from her numerous poppy fields and the high volume of drugs she moves during Pastor Mason Young's church services.
The Byrdes
Wendy and Marty Byrde are ordinary working-class citizens when the series starts but their relationship with the Navarro cartel changes their lives. While laundering money, their influence keeps growing.
The Byrdes association with just about every high-ranking character on the show boosts their social, financial, and political might. The two get to parlay with both criminals and law enforcement, enabling them to maneuver both sides of the law to their own advantage. To the cartel, they have become too important that whoever tries to stop them or kill them is dealt with swiftly. This becomes clear when Hellen is brutally murdered for trying to take over the casino operations.
Agent Maya Miller
The bureau sends Maya Miller to investigate Marty after every other FBI agent fails to come up with something concrete. She takes a calmer approach, befriending Marty before offering him a deal.
Unlike the agents that came before her, Maya's job description covers a wider area. Apart from being a field agent, she is also part of the forensic accounting team. Thanks to her being at a higher pay grade, her hands are rarely tied. She has access to more classified information, too, as she is able to know most things about Omar Navarro and the Mexican cartel wars, yet such details are reserved for DEA agents.
Ruth Langmore
Ruth's best Ozark quotes are part of the reason she is considered the best character on the show. The other reason is her toughness and general wit, which she showcases every single time.
Despite being born into poverty, Ruth's working relationship with Marty gives elevates her status. A pattern can be observed in Marty's schemes in that they only succeed when he is on good terms with Ruth and fail while he is not. She does most of the heavy lifting for him and is seen to be a great manager when put in charge of the Lickety Splitz and the casino. Ruth's managerial position in the casino makes her one of the most respected characters in the Ozarks, capable of even ordering high-ranking criminals around.