Jackie Wattles writes on CNN Money: “Most high net worth Americans say they worked their way up from a lower class. That’s according to a report released by U.S. Trust on Monday, based on a survey that asked 684 adults in the U.S. with $3 million or more of ‘investible assets’ hundreds of questions.
About 77% of those surveyed said they grew up in the middle class or lower, including 19% who say they were poor. And they credit their success to three somewhat surprising factors: Hard work, ambition and family upbringing. Respondents even went so far as to say that these influences were much more important than ‘connections’ or ‘innate talent.’ The survey was also a shout-out to strict parents. About 80% of respondents said their parents were firm disciplinarians. They also named ‘academic achievement,’ ‘financial discipline’ and ‘work participation’ as the family values that were most emphasized in their homes.” (cnn.com)
Millionaires Chalk Success Up to Hard Work and Family Values
