Mr. Obama is President of the United States. Do that same example again on January 21, 2017. Barack Obama will be just as famous then as he is now, but suddenly his opinion will carry a lot less weight than Koch's.
I agree with you that the Kochs would be recognized in their regular watering holes. But that's not famous. That's just taking care of a good customer. If they walked into a restaurant where they weren't previously known they'd be treated just like any other men in nice suits.
#12 is the first name on that list I don't recognize.
Bullshit. You recognized the last name Walton, but out of context you would not have known who those people were. "Walton" is a pretty common name, after all. And you're probably more well-informed than the general public. Of the fifty names on that list there are twelve or so who are arguably "famous," and even most of them would not be recognized or known by the typical man on the street.
Anyway, your argument seems to be that these people are powerful because they're famous. But it's the opposite: They're famous because they're powerful. And they're powerful because they're rich.