The more amazing ones are those that came over broke and couldnt even speak a word of english. Like Thomas Peterfly.
Dude seriously... get out of your basement man... I know several landscapers who started working for a landdscaper for a year or two, saved up for some basic mowers and hired some friends and 10 years later they have a landscaping business making bank year round. Business borrow also to invest in equipment. The problem is you have a tiny brain that cannot think outside the box. You dont need to run a tech firm to make 6 figures a year. It is a tale as old as time... work for someone else.. learn the business..build up..save money....go out on your own with some other people...build it up.. You seem to think you need to be in tech to start a business and make bank. No, you sell a product or service for more than it costs you and wash rinse repeat. Another friend of a friend started a house cleaning business... now has 4-5 cars/crews working. I bet within a few years it will be up to 10 crews. Start up capital was cleaning products and some sweat equity. Open your mind a bit...
You'd be surprised at the number of successful businesses that started by someone taking a little risk and going out on their own. I know several very well to do contractors who have little formal education, quit a secure job and put in the time and effort to grow successful businesses.
22% of Canadians are immigrants vs 13.7% of Americans, so the percentage among Canadian billionaires is probably higher. BTW, did anyone notice that the percentage of immigrant billionaires in the USA at 13% almost exactly matches the 13.7% of American that are immigrants?
Exactly, simply taking their manual labor skills and turning it into a business is the easiest path for many in this country. it might take a few years to learn and understand the system here but most of the contractors in my properties are guys like that and they are booked 6 weeks at a time.
Yeah, everyone knows someone. But we all also know 1000 others who did not amount to anything meaningful whatsoever. You need to look at relative numbers. The American dream was when you worked hard and 30 to 50% of the population could at some point afford their own home and business and relative independence. Today this is closer to 10% or so, especially in metropolitan areas. Those 10 or let's make it 15% are those who gained a valuable education, something that cost their parents a lot to afford. Most don't have that luxury. You are the one who is disconnected from reality. A lot of boomers moan about younger generations when they had it really well and ignore the changed landscape for young generations today. You can work extremely hard and have a middle class income and have zero chance to ever afford a home in larger cities where those jobs are that pay a decent salary. Its a stupid mentality to always rebut the facts and truth by citing a few isolated examples "but I know a few who bla bla bla".
"A Record Number Of Immigrants Have Become Billionaires In The U.S." Imagine how native Average Joe's feel after hearing that...