The bigger question is why so many still believe in the myth of meritocracy [1]. Altman, if he failed upward, is not an isolated incident. It is not.
The common traits of "success" here are more closely aligned to sociopathy and narcissism [2]. Look no further than Elon Musk, the once richest man in the world.
[1]: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/oct/19/the-myth-of-mer...
[2]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackmccullough/2019/12/09/the-p...