they also very likely changed over the years. the constant tension and stress of having power and what to do with it. we see how Musk and spez basically got in

they also very likely changed over the years. the constant tension and stress of having power and what to do with it. we see how Musk and spez basically got into this egoistic (illusion of grandeur, psychotic) state over their own respective fiefdoms. one more interesting data point about irrational decisions and power: Putin. he clawed his way into the dictatorship from a middling KGB officership. it seems his most competent skill is exactly that, scheming his way into bigger and bigger things/jobs, and of course he absolutely sucks as a leader. all in all what I'm trying to say is that yes, even if some "basic competence" is needed initially, it's irrelevant in the long term