When it comes to business leadership, CEOs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook are all-stars who take credit for steering their companies to success. Yet research has shown that people at the helm of big brands often get to the top by being in the right place at the right time, and not so much because of being overly talented or brilliant. A more interesting story can often be told about a company’s second in command. That’s according to hiring methodology consultancy Topgrading, which did a bit of digging to illustrate the point. Check out this infographic, which analyzes the backgrounds of 25 notable executives, profiling their responsibilities, salaries, education, and career histories.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Topgrading