most new millionaires from the last few decades were self made. IE no inheritance, no loans from parents, etc.
Sixty-seven percent of high-net-worth Americans are self-made millionaires, according to the survey. Only 8 percent inherited their wealth. One third of the millionaires surveyed were women and half of them made their own fortunes.
self-made is a bit of a misnomer here. while typically not inheriting their wealth, most of our so-called 'self-made' millionaires were born in upper middle class families who were able to enable their hobby/interest/business idea from an early age, allowing them the freedom to master it. all of them worked hard, but they were able to work hard at something with no initial payoff that paid off more down the line. most people can't do that.