User blog comment:Luffayking12/Who exactly does doflamingo work for?!!?!?!?!?!?/@comment-5962458-20130626211332/@comment-3425840-20130627002627

In my humble opinion, I think Gorosei are higher. Think of it like this, queen Elizabeth II of UK is Royalty. But essentially she has no power other than face value. Yes she has huge wealth and some influence but the country is run by the prime minister who has the real political power.

The Tenryubito has vast wealth and influence but not the absolute authority over the governing policy. That is the Gorosei's department.