Research shows that power makes people more sociopathic.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

My guess is already like that. One thing I don't see called out by name often enough is the effects of narcissism. Imo it's the root disease that all these assholes have in common. It's really easy to horde massive amounts of money, power, etc, if you only care about yourself.

There's some of each. Detachment from real-world problems could easily distort your perceptions. But, this level of acquisitive behavior starts somewhere for most. I would never be a billionaire because somewhere in the low multi-millions, I would turn my attention to other things.

I think it magnifies and emboldens their behavior but I don't believe it changes them, I believe it was always there !