Do you have to be a SOB like Harley Earl to change public opinion?

I just read a new book called FINS that tells the story of Harley Earl, GM's first design chief. The title refers to the thing he is most famous for--tailfins.

I enjoyed reading how he thought up clay models--having molded cars out of clay while playing in the mud as a child in California. And enjoyed how his customizing cars for movie stars out on the Coast landed him the job at GM as its first styling director. But a dark part of the story is how he repressed any other GM designer being mentioned in any publicity so his glory would be greater. and how he fired anybody who wasn't a "Yes man." I compare him to Steve Jobs who i credit with making the laptop better looking and appealing not only with its capability but its looks. The rest of the computer industry had to pay attention to looks to keep up with Apple. But what i want to know is--does the man (or woman) who changes the public's way of looking at a product forever, always have to be such an egomaniac? Any design veterans out there with opinions?