“And yet these people rise to the top and achieve more success than much better people.”
This, unfortunately, is very common in life - partially because those who are willing to do anything to gain power or position have an advantage over those who aren’t. That’s why, IMHO, we too often wind up with criminals in elected office. I don’t think it’s just that power corrupts (although that’s probably part of it).
I suppose power does corrupt all except the very finest people but the LURE of power also ATTRACTS those who are already corrupt.