I don't think anyone is really "qualified" to have the level of influence, power, and adoration that the very top names in many fields get. Research "success"

I don't think anyone is really "qualified" to have the level of influence, power, and adoration that the very top names in many fields get. Research "success" certainly takes some talent and LeCun is certainly smart. However, exhibiting that talent also needs luck, timing, and connections, all of which are subject to crazy positive feedback loops: getting an award helps you get subsequent awards, better students, etc. In a world where GPGPUs came a little sooner or later, I think we'd have totally different "superstars".