Gates at least, admits it was in large part luck. There are brilliant hard working people of equal caliber who die in ignominy every single day. "‘I don’t dese

Gates at least, admits it was in large part luck. There are brilliant hard working people of equal caliber who die in ignominy every single day. "‘I don’t deserve my fortune,’ Mr Gates added. ‘Nobody does. It has come through timing, luck, and through people I worked with.". Is he brilliant, assuredly, and incredibly hardworking as well. Does that change the fact that millions of brilliant incredibly hardworking people die in poverty and obscurity every day? Luck is the differentiator for the most part. Being born in the right place, to the right family, growing up with the right people, during the right time. It takes a person of consummate focus and skill to take advantage of their circumstances, but let's not pretend captains of industry in Silicon Valley would have been equally successful born the son of a welder in Calcutta.