This should be unsurprising in a well functioning (i.e. meritocratic) hierarchy. Power laws indicate that the differences in the top percentile can be huge, and

This should be unsurprising in a well functioning (i.e. meritocratic) hierarchy. Power laws indicate that the differences in the top percentile can be huge, and as such one would expect these large differences in ability to be reasonably easy to recognise and promote. If this does become surprising, then the social system has become dysfunctional and needs some serious adjustment, as it likely no longer serves its purpose.