I think this is fiction.<p>We have lived in a creator-based morality ever since behavioural modernity (50-70,000 years ago). Teaching, trading, inventing, etc - because two heads (perspectives) are better than one. Small, isolated societies stagnate. Over time, "societies" have grown larger, more open, more inclusive.<p>Over time, the larger open society beats the small closed one. (even if that larger group isn't recognized as a "society", it need only communicate, share ideas and build on them).<p>So we needn't fear a tiny billionaire society, even with a head start (at least, not in the long term...).<p>> What would stop the guards from choosing their own leader?<p>Historically, this is a hard problem (<i>et tu, Brutus?</i>). It's easy to keep the masses in check; just create a "nobility" who also benefit from subjugation, all the way down. Resource them, health, education, training, armoury. Propaganda that they are better (fairy tales, clothes, etc). But hard to be safe in that inner circle... Power is a problem.<p>> if they can’t get a seat on the rocket to Mars.<p>After the worst possible imaginable apocalypse, Earth will still be far more habitable than Mars.