What you're talking about is social proof and while it's definitely a thing, it's not as precise as "you get this title once and you're a made man".
For example, I know a few people that were forced to do what you describe because their single VP position was a failure. If you're a VP at Apple and were responsible for shipping iGreatThing, then you're right, you have social proof and a job in the industry for life. If you're a VP at a no-name manufacturing shop in the midwest that made a decent profit, but you were eventually put out of business by a larger competitor, then you don't have social proof or a job in the industry for life.
Social proof also applies to pretty much every area of human endeavor. I once worked with a game designer who regularly makes the top 100 game designers of all time list. He got his status in the industry for work he did in the 80s. None of his modern work has been successful, but he'll have a job in the industry for life.
For example, I know a few people that were forced to do what you describe because their single VP position was a failure. If you're a VP at Apple and were responsible for shipping iGreatThing, then you're right, you have social proof and a job in the industry for life. If you're a VP at a no-name manufacturing shop in the midwest that made a decent profit, but you were eventually put out of business by a larger competitor, then you don't have social proof or a job in the industry for life.
Social proof also applies to pretty much every area of human endeavor. I once worked with a game designer who regularly makes the top 100 game designers of all time list. He got his status in the industry for work he did in the 80s. None of his modern work has been successful, but he'll have a job in the industry for life.