Most very successful businesses are government monopolies or oligopolies, and are the result of the state continuously interfering on their behalf over a period of decades or more. Sometimes multiple times. At least here in France.

The really big companies are France Telecom/Orange, GDF/Suez, Total, BNP Paribas, Sanofi, EDF and Societe Generale, maybe Renault. All fit this pattern. None are the result of innovation, the closest would be Sanofi and Renault up until WW1.

I have not yet been to another country where it was different.

yep, and as a pleb I don't know if I should hold onto my ethics or say fuck it and follow in their footsteps.