1. Despite is used for contrast. Therefore, if you are talking about growing wealth and power, you could imply that the person would most likely by greedy, or an irritable person. However, despite says the opposite. Thus, B and C are wrong. The level of intelligence is not relevant in this question so D is also wrong.
2. Because is used for reason. It usually creates a cause and effect sentence. Being friendly does not make a person despised. Generosity does not lead to wealth so C is also wrong. The strangeness of a person also does not have anything to do with their own fortune as it is only a behavioural act and has nothing to do with one's future and fortune. It can only make sense that if a person is unpleasant, they are unpopular as people generally do not like to be around others that are unpleasant to them.
