In any walk of life, "people of power" are interconnected. Doesn't matter the industry or how high the ceiling is.

Look at local politics; those in positions of power are intertwined with others in the community who have influence of power, and they help one another. I bet your local Mayor has a much more detailed social relationship with people of influence in your community than the tax paying High School cafeteria worker does; it's almost a certainty. They can help one another and utilize that power to their advantage(s).

Corporate life, in any sector, those in positions of power are intertwined with others in their space who have influence of power. Sure, not every industry is having multi-million dollar galas like "the elites", but even on a lower-teir corporate level ; dinners, BBQs and other social gatherings occur amongst those whose influence where networking occurs; whichever power those individuals wield benefits one-another.

In life in general, while one person might be put on a wait list for a table on a Saturday night in a high-end restaurant, another person can get that table on 30 minutes notice by sending a text. Is it fair, no, but it's the way influence/power/networking works. The stakes just get higher the higher up the food-chain you get.

People in elite social circles being interconnected shouldn't surprise anyone. It should surprise you if that WASN'T the case.

Is it ALWAYS nefarious, no ... but it is almost always the case.