Even if this person was not rich as measured by capital, he is somehow privileged in other ways. Like running in the right social circles and knowing the people

Even if this person was not rich as measured by capital, he is somehow privileged in other ways. Like running in the right social circles and knowing the people who hand out these rental contracts. Typically, people in media, the culture sector, and politics, know each other and do each other these kind of favors. It's how corruption works in a society where power and influence have been consolidated over decades. Me, I moved to China.