🎯 Main Thesis

The myth of the “self-made billionaire” is a harmful ideological narrative. Billionaires don’t earn their wealth through hard work and talent alone — they succeed through:

1. Family wealth and privilege
2. Labor exploitation
3. Government subsidies

This myth sustains a system that hoards wealth at the top while diminishing public services and perpetuating inequality.

🛑 Why the Myth Is Dangerous

✨ False Hope

• Billionaire success stories are sold to the public as inspirational tales: “If they did it, you can too.”
• But statistically, becoming a billionaire is nearly impossible (0.0002% of the U.S. population).
• This narrative manipulates people into believing billionaires deserve their wealth and discourages systemic critique.

🔁 Used to Justify Harmful Policy

• If billionaires earned their wealth, it seems “unfair” to tax them.
• The myth fuels arguments for lower taxes, deregulation, and reduced government spending — hurting everyone else by defunding:
  • Roads
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Public services

📉 The Truth Behind Billionaire Wealth

1. 🧬 Family Wealth and Privilege

• Jeff Bezos received a $300K investment from his parents.
• Elon Musk’s father owned an emerald mine and was a wealthy property developer in apartheid South Africa.