When someone tells you they got rich through hard work...

[trekbiker]

70. I agree

for every rich parasite there are likely 10 rich/well off people who got there the honest way.

Fresh out of college I arrived in San Francisco in 1985 with the clothes on my back, a 1971 Toyota Corolla on its last legs, and an Electrical Engineering degree. I worked my ass off and lived like a college student for the first 15 years of my career. I drove cheap used cars (all Toyotas). Now, 29 years later I suppose I could be considered "rich". The irony is I now work about half as hard, my outside investments make more money than my $150K/yr job with practically no real "labor" on my part. If you are half way smart with money, have planned well, understand the concept of "opportunity costs".... it will pay off well down the road.