Determination, calculated risk-taking, a lot of hard work, a relentless pursuit of greatness, and luck. Read the bios of anyone on the Forbes billionaire list, or any top athlete, etc, and you'll see the same traits. For example, Michael Jordan didn't make the varsity basketball team, so he trained vigorously and became the star of the JV team to prove himself. Many others probably gave up. The Forbes list is full of stories of people working from poverty to billionaire status, and even losing everything and becoming billionaires again. It is the willingness to do whatever it takes to be the best when others give up that makes you great. Plus luck.