Lemma: Earth lodes are assumed to be limited supply.
Find a Smaug-scale lode of d-block transition metal like gold or palladium on the Moon or a near-Earth asteroid. Crash the market. Buy other metals at fire sale prices.
Also, own the silicon semiconductor market.
Profit.
We did neocolonialism. It was profitable. Nobody forgot that.
OK fine, we are mid-neocolonial. Accepted.
So far there’s no evidence to the contrary. Speculative interest says “keep digging, there’s bound to be one out there” among the rocky asteroids. Heck, even “comet water might” bring a price, given trends.
If you think the next wave of neocolonialism wouldn’t consider indentured servitude and/or conscription, well… I guess we shall see. You don’t need indigenous people, just poors.
Edit: …when you can just turn off their air.