There were a lot of wealthy people but many more were just regular people with regular jobs at different stages of life.  I worked in management at a communications company with an associates degree and then while working my company paid for my bach degree. Each week i paid myself first by investing in my 401k with my company match for 27 years and left at 49 years old with about a million bucks.  Along the way I still had fun purchased my primary house, two rental income condos, and a lake house with my brother.  For fun I become a private pilot.  I'm 56 now work part time and haven't dipped into the 401k yet but look forward that when the time comes.  I agree with what many of those people said:  First do what you love.  Second, know your worth. Third, work hard.  Forth, live below your means...learn this early on...no credit cards, don't get caught up in the hight lease/car payment scam...everyone loves a new car but do you love 5 or more years of stress trying to make payments....save for that upfront. Buy a two year old car brand new loses so much out the door.  As long as you are contribute to retirement and savings each week, and meeting all your bills without using credit cards and still hv some left over for fun ...well heck  you are miles ahead of the majority of your friends.   The moral of the story is you get  what you focus on: Keep your eye on the prize...you get what you focus on.   I remember a story that explains it best ..someone asked two people towards the end of their life if it had turned out like they had hoped....One guy said you bet, i always wanted to be an airline Captain and you know my dad took me as a kid for an intro flight.  After HS that man said he decided to join the air force and he served as a fighter pilot.  When he came out all the airlines wanted him, he was a Captain in no time and traveled the world, met wife on the other side of the world and have 5 kids...retired now he spends time with in 12 grand kids.   The man asked the some other man that same question a couple of days later and he said Did you live the life you expected?  The man replied, to be honest, i never expected much.....i worked in a few different jobs over the years to make ends meet, settled down and i'm retired now.  I don't have much money to travel, I'm on a fixed in come but i do ok.    So focus on what you want to happen, put actions in place consistently and you will have a better chance at achieving your goals and dreams.