You don't need to become famous. People strongly value personal affectations over professional skill. Failure to acknowledge this is simply wishful thinking.

Consider that most of your indirect colleagues are not well-versed enough to know whether you're doing your job well or not in the first place.

Why are so many clowns in positions with high rank, and so many better-qualified people are further down the totem pole? Because people don't respond naturally to qualifications. They respond to getting their personal interests and desires satisfied.

If you present a credible professional front and you are well-liked, that's all that matters, and you will be well-connected and rewarded well outside of any rational proportion.