We are told that cheaters never win/prosper (usually by our parents when were young) in an effort to discourage us from cheating. However, in reality that’s not how it seems to work. The wealthy and powerful obtain/maintain their wealth and power by lying and cheating. In an effort to justify or mask their actions (from others and even themselves), they use more benign words for their actions such as - loopholes, charitable donations, investments, influential, humanitarian.
On occasions, cheaters get caught. Then they have to lie and cheat more in an effort to try to weasel out of their predicament, lest they loose some of their prestige. Many of them spend a great deal of their wealth trying to avoid being caught or paying up when they are caught.
On the outside, it may look like cheaters win/prosper, but there is a cost. As honest people, we know this. That’s why we continue to tell our children “cheaters never win/prosper”.
Shuhak 