It always has been, it always will be.

I don't get why anyone is surprised by this sort of thing. Money is the supreme value above all others in USA culture.

I don’t get why anyone is surprised by this sort of thing.

Because the the idea that the US was founded as a meritocracy is a core cultural myth that’s taught as fact to every new American. There’s value to constantly challenging pervasive cultural myths. Won’t change anything for us but might help a few in the next generation see past the bullshit sooner than they otherwise would.