this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2023
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[–] Slotos@feddit.nl 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Millionaires often worked for their money. Billionaires often worked for their first millions too. Problem is, difference between a billion and a million is about a billion.

On the other side of the argument, the amount of people that work harder and smarter than any given billionaire and have nothing is simply staggering. If it wasn’t down to luck, they’d all be billionaires.

So yeah, it is dumb luck. Randomness is not uniform, and someone ends up being close to the time and place of a local spike.

[–] Merwyn@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

I would say that willingness to exploit other, be selfish and have low ethic also play a big role.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Except life is much more complicated than that.

Working hard and being smart doesn't equal to having lots of money.

Luck also doesn't equal having lots of money. How many "lucky" people have won the jack pot? And lost it all in a manner of months/years?

Not saying luck doesn't play a part maybe even a huge part but it just seems silly to attribute someone's success to luck.

[–] Slotos@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please reflect on the fact that until you joined the discussion, we didn’t talk about equating success to luck.

Afterwards, you will likely notice that your jackpot argument reinforces mine.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Please reflect on the fact that until you joined the discussion,

Please lets not be condescending here. I will rephrase, instead of success I will say wealth. I used the two interchangeably as many people judge your success based on your wealth.

we didn’t talk about equating success to luck.

Didn't you say this here.

On the other side of the argument, the amount of people that work harder and smarter than any given billionaire and have nothing is simply staggering. If it wasn’t down to luck, they’d all be billionaires.

[–] Slotos@feddit.nl 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wealth itself is a stronger predictor for future wealth than individual performance.

That quote of mine doesn’t talk about success, nor wealth itself for that matter. You’re ignoring everything in the message to argue against a statement that was never made in the first place.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Wealth itself is a stronger predictor for future wealth than individual performance.

I agree with that.