I've shared my background before, but I'll do it again...I grew up in a lower class household (family of 5; $45k household income until the time I was about 16). Parent couldn't afford to cover the tab for my college, so I got a loan for part of it and worked full time while going to college to pay for the other half of it. Spent multiple years waking up at 6am and not getting home until midnight 5-6 days a week to be able to get a degree while working full time in a warehouse.
Not much of that advantage you describe...
So when I'm expected to foot the bill for others who are in my former situation who don't want to make the same sacrifices I did, surely you can understand why it's frustrating...
Another interesting thing to note is that while some are born into wealth, 80% of millionaires are first-generation millionaires.
Family of 4, $70 K or less household income until i was 13, $30 K household income for a couple years in high school, back to $70 K after that. Have had a job from the time i was 12 (paper route to start). Only had to work part time in college, as my parents were able to foot most of the bill. Even when i got a career job, continued working part-time on the side. 40+ hours at the office, 20+ at job #2. I'm not going to try to argue that i had to work as hard as you to get where i am. From the sounds of it, you had a tougher path. That being said, most in America have a harder path to prosperity than you had.
FYI, $45K family income back in 1999? You're above the median, so realize that even at those meager income levels, you are starting off better than 50% of other Americans.
Did you come from a stable family that understood the value of education? That alone puts you at a distinct advantage over 60% of other Americans.
We've hashed out the 80% of millionaires thing before. "Millionaires" aren't who i'm labeling the "super rich". I'm well on the path to being a "1st generation millionaire". I highly doubt i will ever be "super rich". The % of people who have a net worth of $10 million (10-millionaires) that are 1st generation is guaranteed to be well under 80%. The percentage that came from poverty? I'd wager under 5%. In fact, i'd wager, that the majority of those individuals came from families in the upper class.
I understand that you feel like it was only your hard work that got you to where you are. From the sounds of it, your hard work was essential to getting you where you are now, and i commend you for it. It doesn't change the fact that you likely had better opportunities than 50+% of the population because of the family/situation you were born into.
