If one wanted to form a major family in Huaxia standing at the peak of the social hierarchy, they had to have a significant foundation.
What was the underlying "foundation"?
Power, money, resources, connections, talent reserves, etc. were all factors that constituted the strength of a family.
But these were undoubtedly superficial. If a family had only these, they would at most be a reputable noble family.
Simply put, they were the families whose affairs were circulated virally across different media outlets, spurring chains upon chains of nuclear reactions.
As the adage was in Huaxia: "True substance never flaunts."
Truly powerful characters rarely appeared on a screen. They controlled, manipulated, and enjoyed everything in the dark, unbeknownst to commoners.
Those who frequently appeared in the media were at most their spokesperson, giving speeches as ordered. The real games were those that happened under the table.