Sociopaths my friend. Most of the rich "successful" types, along with the ruling class, have got there by their sociopathic abilities. This is the norm in human history of course and you could probably put a fair portion where humanity has got to so far down to these types as well.
That is a self-serving modern myth. It is necessary for rationalizing the hybristic modern myth of historical “progress” and “advancement”: How could modernity be “advanced”, if the world has become worse?
The reality is that in all of recorded or recoverable history, never before has the whole world been more thoroughly corrupt, degenerate, and debased than it is now. You could put not only “a fair portion”, but the
totality of this down to the corruption of the ruling class: The sheep only go where they are led, for they can do no other, all democratic delusions to the contrary notwithstanding.