Mufasa, I think I see the point you are trying to convey initially, its sounds good to me. I will try to expand and get an answer on just how far luck goes, and when it truly begins?
For example in my opinion I think luck starts when you first pop into this world, having two loving parents, being well off, education, connections and many luxories that some people seem to have more of can sure be helpful to put you in a position of further “luck” later in life. There is luck, brains, and previlege.
Donald Trump, with his TV show and his iconic personality is seen as a business God (or at least what one is to act like), but I ask you would he have had the opportunity to his success if not for previlege? Donald Trump to my recollection grew up fairly wealthy, his father already owned much real estate in New York, he had a great starting ground and expanded upon that. If Donald Trump grew up with a single mother in a trailer park, would he have made it, its still possible, would have it been much harder, hell yeah. So he may be a smart guy but to say that his previlege didn’t have anything to do with that is laughable.
Are most Billionairs/Millionairs as rich as they inherited, no most make more money of course, but a large percentage did start off fairly wealthy. To me its likes well off parents honoring their children when they make it into a nice university. Is it really admirable, high school grades anyone can do, try paying for that education. Who do you think pays for these future Billionairs education, hardly any of them paid it on their own, but this is more sterotypical.
I think America or at the least most of America now is in a very opportunity filled position so success is much easier, say much easier than being a immigrant with no education, I think there are some really great examples of people who truly made it on their own, and I admire that and respect it, but they are few and far between. The less resistence you have to face to your goal the more likely. Of course there is intelligence, creativity, and street smarts with most success stories, but its not as if you will be saying many third world children making billions, and it doesnt necessiarly mean they couldn’t if put it the same position. Life isn’t fair some will have to fight harder than others and those cases are always the most interesting and fun to hear about.