Second-rate tax advisors from Des Moines

"But they're no smarter than I am!" Faye said. "Bezos, Branson, Zuckerberg, Musk. Just attention-seeking narcissists, all of them!"

The Director nodded. "Have you noticed how the people we hold up as the most successful examples of capitalism are also borderline sociopaths? It's no coincidence. Capitalism works best when you're an extremist who doesn't conform to social norms. Normal people just aren't ruthless enough."

George thought about this, wondering why the connection had never occurred to him.

"And what's more," Faye went on, "they just happened to be in the right place at the right time, or had a rich daddy. So why do we treat them like they're so special?"

"Bezos, Branson, Zuckerberg, and Musk," the Director smiled. "Sounds like a firm of second-rate tax advisors."

"From Des Moines," George added drily. "Specialising in small-time tax avoidance schemes."

"Bad suits, dandruff, and halitosis," Faye concluded. "Just privileged white men somewhere on the autistic spectrum who see themselves as superheroes, when they could just as easily be serving us drinks tonight."

The Dragon & the Hummingbird