Marginal Revolution — Do influential people develop more conventional opinions?

'#1. People "sell out" to become more influential. #2. As people become more influential, they are less interested in offending their new status quo-oriented friends. #3. As people become more influential, their opinion of the status quo rises, because they see it rewarding them and thus meritorious #4. The status quo is good at spotting interesting, unusual people who will evolve (sell out?) and elevating them to positions of influence. #5. Oddballs who are influential  …