Python is arguable a pretty language and it's also a fully featured language with support for classes, first class functions, and yet manages to remain relative

Python is arguable a pretty language and it's also a fully featured language with support for classes, first class functions, and yet manages to remain relatively simple and approachable. But even that isn't why it's popular. It has the most robust data science tools available which has created a steamroller effect and decent web frameworks in Django and Flask. Python has also replaced Java as "the first learning language" at many universities. So there are many reasons for it's rise in popularity. VBA not so much.