[lumost]

The individual in question needn’t outperform the rest of society, they merely need to be critical to the activities of the rest of society. Whether Their criticality is necessary, just, or effective doesn't matter. But it does mean that they can pay bodyguards better than everyone else, and there is no inherent reason to believe the body guards will beanle to step into that role.

[kqr]

By "pay better", do you mean "provide all services required for a comfortable life"?

[DarylZero]

Humans will suffer very bad leadership indeed. Not only does the leadership not need to be "the best" -- they can be very abusive and tyrannical for a very long time, before any kind of collective revolt is organized.

"all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"