Building a sect or religion. is it for god or personal gain of popularity and money?

im just so puzzled how and why those religious leaders now become powerful politically and financially? some come from nothing now, they have billions of ets! and they partyin and socializing with ambadors, buseness tycoons,and politicians.they live like a rockstars now! and go anywhere with their expensive limousines, helicopters, aeroplanes, yatch and so on! including numbers of mansions and ranches. if religion is now a big buseness well' it sure is booming!