The Ten Roads to Riches: The Ways The Wealthy Got There (And How You Can Too!)

Chapter 1. THE RICHEST ROAD

Have a compelling vision?

Leadership skills?

An understanding spouse?

You just might be a visionary founder.

This is the richest road. Founding your own firm can create astounding wealth. Half of the 10 richest Americans did this, including Bill Gates (net worth $59 billion), gambling mogul Sheldon Adelson ($28 billion), Oracle CEO Larry Ellison ($26 billion), and Google wunderkinds Sergey Brin and Larry Page ($18.5 billion each).^[6] Close behind are info magnate and now NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg ($11.5 billion), Nike's Phil Knight ($9.8 billion), finance's Stephen Schwarzman ($7.8 billion), discount broker Charles Schwab ($5.5 billion), and many of the richest Americans from nearly every industry and angle.^[7] Even better? These folks get wealthy and spawn rich ride-alongs too. (See Chapter 3.)

And this road works with scant restriction by industry, education, or pedigree—PhDs and college dropouts are equally welcome. Be warned: This road's not for the faint-hearted. It requires courage, discipline, Teflon skin, strategic vision, a talented supporting cast, and maybe luck. Those lacking entrepreneurial spirit needn't apply—nor folks who are fear-driven.

No mistake, it's tough. Few new businesses survive more than four years.^[8] But starting a business is the American Dream. Succeeding is the realm of supermen and superwomen. The key to success is a novel twist making what you do different—the difference that works.

Are you a person who can't be stopped? Can ...