Do the minions that prop up a dictator or czar, etc. want the perks of power a dictator has but not the authority?

Any king, dictator, czar, etc. is only one person. If it were some tribal society the one strongest to beat 50% of the others physically and intimidate the remaining 50% got to lead. When you talking about hundreds of thousands to millions of people, one person needs a number of lackeys to do their bidding and be their muscle. These lackeys, the minions who place themselves under the autocrat what is their motivation? Many are willing to die for this leader and carry out ruthless policies of the autocrat, should anything go south, they can say it wasn’t them but the autocrat they are under. Is it because they are intimidated even if they are on very friendly terms with the dictator, or they like the secondary power and fame riding the coat tails of the dictator?