The Wealth of the Wicked Is Laid Up for the Just
- Dylan Leonora
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
We are witnessing a growing trend in 2025: CEOs are stepping down in record numbers. According to Forbes, many cite the current economic and political climate as the reason for their departure. But there is more to the story. In this new landscape, no one is safe—regardless of title or power.
CEOs are leaving for three key reasons:
Personal conduct and ethical standards.
Strategic misalignment and performance issues.
Massive payouts despite poor market results.
Uncertainty and unpredictability have made leadership more difficult than ever. But for many leaders, it is not just external pressure. The weight of their own deeds is catching up with them. It robs their joy, peace of mind, and strength. And when it finally comes to light, we hear familiar stories of CEOs cheating, influencers evading taxes, athletes hiding money, or employers withholding wages. These signs are everywhere: the wealth of the wicked is being transferred to the just.
Businesses built by unjust leaders will be handed over to righteous, humane stewards. But what are the patterns we should recognize?
When Unjust Wealth Looks Like Success
Many companies still rise quickly by cutting corners. They gain wealth through:
Exploiting workers.
Feeding inequality and greed.
Hiding truth and avoiding transparency.
Or full-blown fraud.
They make billions. They get magazine covers. They fool investors. But truth always catches up. What seems like success is often just a house of cards.
Here are just a few examples:
Enron (USA, 2001)
Enron was praised as one of America’s most innovative companies. Behind the scenes, they hid billions in debt through accounting tricks. When the truth emerged, the company collapsed. 20,000 people lost jobs and pensions. Even its auditing firm, Arthur Andersen, was destroyed.
Lesson: Hidden debt and fraud always surface. Even giants fall.
Lehman Brothers (USA, 2008)
A 150-year-old investment bank collapsed due to toxic debt and reckless risk-taking. Its fall triggered the global financial crisis. Millions lost jobs, homes, and retirement savings.
Lesson: Greed is not a growth strategy. It is a time bomb.
Volkswagen (Germany, 2015)
VW installed secret software to cheat emissions tests. Over 11 million cars were affected. Billions in fines followed. The CEO resigned. Trust and brand damage were irreversible.
Lesson: Shortcuts come to light. Even great engineering cannot fix broken ethics.
OneCoin (Bulgaria, 2014–2017)
Marketed as the next Bitcoin, OneCoin was a massive Ponzi scheme. The tech didn’t exist. The founder vanished with billions. It became one of history’s biggest frauds.
Lesson: When leaders disappear, so does the illusion.
Theranos (USA, 2018)
Elizabeth Holmes promised to revolutionize medicine with a single drop of blood. But the technology didn’t work. She fooled investors, doctors, and chains like Walgreens. She was eventually convicted of fraud.
Lesson: Lying to do good is still lying. Broken promises leave real victims.
WeWork (USA, 2019–2023)
Seen as a co-working revolution, WeWork grew fast but burned cash even faster. The founder cashed out while the company bled. The IPO failed. By 2023, it filed for bankruptcy.
Lesson: You can’t build real value on hype, ego, or unstable economics.
Wirecard (Germany, 2020)
Touted as a fintech success, Wirecard faked €1.9 billion in cash reserves. The CEO went to jail. The COO fled the country. It became Germany’s biggest post-war accounting scandal.
Lesson: Innovation without integrity destroys trust and systems.
FTX (Bahamas/USA, 2022)
FTX became a major crypto exchange. Its founder was hailed as a genius. Behind the scenes, he used customer funds to cover losses. The collapse impacted over a million people. He now faces decades in prison.
Lesson: Charisma is not character. Hype does not replace stewardship.
Qatar World Cup Stadiums (FIFA World Cup 2022)
Billion-dollar infrastructure was built on the suffering of thousands of laborers. The global event was tainted by exploitation and human rights violations.
Lesson: When profit overtakes dignity, we all lose.
Saint & Stars (Netherlands, 2025)
An exclusive fitness chain in Amsterdam collapsed despite strong branding and millions in investments. Customers and employees were left with nothing.
Lesson: A strong image without financial integrity is slow-motion self-deception.
What’s the Common Thread?
All these stories reveal the same pattern:
They began with pride, greed, and unchecked ambition.
They lacked transparency, humility, and character.
They grew quickly but not healthily.
In the end, they fell hard.
“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
Where Does the Wealth Go?
We are living through a transfer of wealth. It does not vanish. It moves. It finds new hands. And in this moment, a marketplace revival is unfolding. People are hungry and searching. What worked before no longer works. Everything that can be shaken is being shaken.
As I’ve said before, in times of uncertainty, people look for clarity and stability. That stability is coming from a new generation of leaders. Not because it’s allowed. But because it’s just.
Slavery was legal, but it was never just. It was exploitation.
Everything done in darkness is being exposed. The only way to build lasting businesses is with integrity, in the light, and with the right heart posture to serve others. Anything less damages people, industries, and nations. Time is ticking. The world is shifting. Politics are heating up. And we need leaders with a mindset of stewardship. Those who once were overlooked—because they chose people over profit—will rise. They will break barriers and achieve things beyond imagination.
What is already happening:
1. A new generation of leaders is rising
They build companies rooted in integrity, stewardship, and mission. They are not perfect, but they are honest. They think long-term. Talent, customers, and capital are flowing to them.
2. The largest wealth transfer in history is underway
Over $80 trillion will pass to the next generation. Founders are retiring. Many care about their people and legacy. Righteous leaders,those with vision and values are stepping in to buy, lead, and protect those businesses.
3. The market is rewarding ethics
In fashion, finance, food, and tech—we see a shift. Reputation is becoming the highest currency. It opens doors money cannot. With trust, your network expands. When people share their network, they invest their name. Ethics are becoming the highest standard. And they are being rewarded.
Conclusion: Same Spirits, Different Forms
Whether it’s a gym, a tech startup, a megabank, or a global sports event, the patterns are the same:
The exterior is polished. The interior is neglected.
There’s a façade of success hiding abuse, deception, or recklessness.
Human dignity is sacrificed for profit.
Accountability and ethics are absent.
Real wealth is built over time, across generations.
It comes through leaders who:
Build strong families.
Know they are stewards, not owners.
Leave things better than they found them.
It is a mindset, a posture, and a lifestyle. Free from selfish ambition. Full of service. Free from scarcity. Living in abundance. Free from rejection. Leading with confidence.
These are leaders who show the way. Even in political or economic storms. They build with love, patience, and vision. You don’t have to choose between people and profit. But you do have to choose the path.
And choosing the righteous path requires boldness.
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