It's extremely common at most companies, including MFAANG, because it makes zero sense to layoff the incumbent and hire a brand new person.
https://old.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/jy5rcw/lpt_bec...
Facebook got caught.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/dec/03/facebook-...
I've also been hired after similar "non-interviews". Sometimes it's hard to know if it's just disorganisation/incompetence or if there's outright fakery going on.
He was a friend of a friend and one of the most unprincipled people I've ever gotten to actually know. But I assume there are many similar people higher in corporate hierarchies that I wouldn't ever know.
Edit: Or maybe not, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42012035
I have 5 Sr. Devs and if any of them split, how long would it take me to replace them? and at what rate? and what skillsets will they have and not have?