There's three factors here: (1) What does "rich" mean? If it is net worth of >$1bn, it is more common to have taken investment at some point. At $50mm, it is f

There's three factors here: (1) What does "rich" mean? If it is net worth of >$1bn, it is more common to have taken investment at some point. At $50mm, it is far less common. (2) What does "investor" mean? If it is VC, it's not true at all that most rich people (by either definition) required investment. If it means they took at least one of equity-linked dollar for their business, then most did. But there are many, many wealthy people who have not taken $1mm+ in equity dollars. (Many can rely on bank financing, e.g. receivables LOCs.) (3) When did they take it? Many rich people have taken substantial investment, but only after they had built substantial businesses and got to define the terms (example: Joe Mansueto at Morningstar). If the question is whether it is necessary to take seven or more figures of equity dollars at an early stage to own equity whose worth could be reasonably estimated at $50mm+, then the answer is no (and asking rich people will verify that). If, on the other hand, the question is what portion of the superrich ($1bn+) took investment somewhere along the way, then the majority likely will have. However, I think the first question is a more useful and relevant question for people here.