It's the other way around. Failure makes people mean. Success softens people and when they're relaxed, they can afford social polish, especially around importan

It's the other way around. Failure makes people mean. Success softens people and when they're relaxed, they can afford social polish, especially around important people like their investors. Of course, there are people who remain dickheads even after success (several were named here and I won't repeat) because they're either (a) so ambitious that they'll never have enough or (b) the meanness has become part of their "personal brands" but that's rare. Most people become more polished (and, superficially, nicer) when they're well-rested.