You couldn't be more right.
It is groupthink and worship of the top of the food chain. It has a LOT to do with the bust on Wall Street.
Any of the documentaries on Enron have this as a pillar of the downfall. I can tell you that the first thing I heard in general business courses in college (I have an accounting degree) was the awesome possibilities that Wall Street and IPO's offer as well as the personal stories of how great these magnificient INDIVIDUALS are. I know someone who works for a Fortune 500 company (you know the name like you do the Post Office

) and every meeting BEGINS with quotes from the dead founder of the company. It is required in the template of presentations.
Great point Snark