Eyeballs Syndrome

      Someone mentioned in comments to Expert Syndrome that surely Hollywood (and other media) stars, business CEOs and similar types suffer a version of it.

      Not quite; they have mastered a skill (or fallen into it) but I think what causes them to believe their opinions are worth sharing are all the eyeballs on them.  If the actor's any good at their craft and chooses roles in things that do well, plenty of people are looking; successful CEOs are lauded by their peers, the business press and often that trickles over to the popular press as well.

      And they think to themselves, "My thoughts and ideas must be wonderful: look at all the attention I'm getting!"

      Yeah, no.  The things that make for a good actor don't necessarily mean that person is wise or insightful. They only mean they're a good actor.  Likewise, doing well running a business may mean a person is smart -- or perhaps they're just lucky.  Or even (hello, Enron) that they are remarkably crooked.

      In the moment, there's no way to know for sure.  Fame only means a person is famous.

      Many of the famous fail to understand that.