Who are…these people??
Middling or fringe, public or semi-public political figures; potential liabilities, potentially expendable.
With some special or unique access: to an influential person, group, business, or enterprise, such as: a key generous donor (individual or organization) or political figure; a company or foundation executive, or political organization or body.
With some special financial skill or knowledge, such as: knowledge of loopholes in nonprofit and religious organization tax laws; or real estate tax laws; a keen understanding of private equity and structuring companies and/or to obscure ownership; or accounting skills; or familiarity with voucher funding incentives and opportunities;
Many short-term positions in unrelated career paths; limited time or previous expressed interest in any career, place, or role in academia.
Access to places to keep, spend, or invest money: yours, theirs, or the institution’s (directly or indirectly), through ownership of funds and companies/organizations or directorship over funding pools (such as, seated on the board of a health system).
General slickness; media training or polish from public visibility; coupled with practiced shamelessness and indignation, an alloy aimed at detractors who would question or challenge their righteous motivations or fattening pockets.
