This seems like the smart way to go about it to be honest. I think anyone who really knows their worth wouldn't really be too fussed about making it on the list

This seems like the smart way to go about it to be honest. I think anyone who really knows their worth wouldn't really be too fussed about making it on the list except purely for marketing reasons and those who really need it are by reasoning probably startups that are struggling on some front. Making it on the list if anything could draw ridicule from people in the same industry who don't need cheap marketing. Thus crafting up some "fake" guy to be in the list for some pr seems like a good way to get the best of both worlds