There is a saying in Chinese that wealth does not last more than 3 generations. I am 4 generations down from a successful businessman. Family is not wealthy, b

There is a saying in Chinese that wealth does not last more than 3 generations. I am 4 generations down from a successful businessman. Family is not wealthy, but I sometimes meet distantly related or socially related families, of different generations, descending from the circle of successful businessmen 4 generations ago. While there are exceptions, I think the saying is broadly true, and my take is a bit simple and possibly offensive. The first generation had fortunate circumstances, but were _incredibly capable_. Their spouses tended to be attractive. Like it or not, many skills have hereditary components. As a kid you hear about your great grandfather doing insane things when they were young and wonder if you can do that too. As an adult, you read about those insane things and you realize _you still can't do those things_. Not only that, your parents can't, and their parents couldn't either. It's just alien. It really isn't complicated. If you get wealthy from _outstanding ability_, and want to have kids that are capable of handling wealth _by capability_, then have capable kids. People who are capable of handling wealth aren't drawing inspiration from a Nasdaq article. Maybe OP is seeing many clueless people who lucked into wealth recently. Well I certainly know that luck is not hereditary: it only takes one gambler to end a generational empire. > we've been able to build upon education and constructive traditions passed on from generation to generation; this is kind of wealth that's much harder to take away. I think this is the best way to think about wealth and wish this perspective has wider appreciation.