My theory is that the brilliant asshole just tends to gravitate toward the limelight. In other words they are also very self-congratulatory and therefore market

My theory is that the brilliant asshole just tends to gravitate toward the limelight. In other words they are also very self-congratulatory and therefore market themselves better. Look at a FAAMG - of the acronym, I would only consider Jobs a "brillant" asshole and maybe Bezos (although he seems way more dogmatic than an asshole). Despite all being incredibly companies, Jobs is by and far the most famous.