What makes something a cult? Rather than just a person with a lot of admirers?

Answer 1

Bill Burr said when a cult has a lot of followers it's called a religion.

Answer 2

The admirers should not be dependent on the person admired by them. Just like they should not be dependent on everyday rituals (like washing the hands before the food). The dependency in both cases is source of cult.

Answer 3

A cult is completely fixated on one person who claims to have all the answers.  If that one person is dead, it's a religion.

Answer 4

It's made up by usually one person. The followers are maniacal fanatics. Once you're in its very difficult to escape, because of social pressure and shaming. They believe weird things that there's no proof for. Ok, that's religion defined.