If you're not willing to invest because it's risky, that's fair, but if you're also going to complain that those who do are getting something for nothing, then it isn't so fair.

I wasn't the original commenter, but I don't think when they said "owner class" they meant passive minority shareholders with $200K portfolios or people with some money in their 401Ks.

While some of the richest are certainly entrepreneurs, the largest percentage of Forbes 400 are people who got there with OPM, other people's money, like hedge fund managers. Another chunk are heirs like Waltons or Kochs. Did Waltons get something for nothing without any risk? I would say yes, they did.

Check this on Sam Walton before assuming he got something for nothing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Walton

More accurately he made something from nothing.

You and anyone else could have made a little something, too, if you'd bought Walmart stock. Lots of people did.

Also, you could be a millionaire by retirement if you adhered to a regular investment program rather than only one investment of $1,000.

Sam Walton is dead, I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about his children, they're in top 20 richest people or something like that. Each one.

And if I didn't have the money to buy that stock?

Also, the Walton kids most assuredly got something for nothing.

> And if I didn't have the money to buy that stock?

But you do.

> the Walton kids most assuredly got something for nothing.

85% of American millionaires are self-made. See "The Millionaire Next Door" by Stanley.