Those people with halfway-decent salary, a rent stipend perk, and an expense-claims budget.
It's a livable situation by any modest measure, but it's not quite the flurry of cash needed to support the lavish lifestyle they "need", to keep up with the Onosendai-Joneses.
They'd be glad to spend conspicuously if they did have that, but they'll settle for just appearing to have done so, so, they form a network of contacts to help with advantageous procurement opportunities.
They develop more and better ways to use other people's money and keep more of their own, while their assets proliferate before everyone's eyes.
They convince a supervisor that they either need a personal assistant or will mentor the next entry-level candidate.
If they're lucky, they do climb the ladder and attain greater cash-flow, become entrusted with more budget access, and enjoy reduced oversight as they demonstrate apparent value to Uncle Saedor.
But do they let go of those strategies for thrift and acquisition?
Or...
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/EPA-chief-Scott-Pruitt-had-aide-do-numerous-12965601.php