In this case "a ton" is an understatement, getting a Nobel requires the right mix of excellent research, significant discovery and a healthy dose of luck/timing

In this case "a ton" is an understatement, getting a Nobel requires the right mix of excellent research, significant discovery and a healthy dose of luck/timing. Inverting the comment that you were replying to it's akin to saying "I wish I had finished my software engineer degree and made a billion dollar startup instead of getting a chemistry PhD".