The Myth of Self-Made Billionaires

The provided text critiques the notion of "self-made billionaires," arguing that true self-sufficiency in wealth creation is an impossibility. It highlights examples from Nigeria's oil industry, where individuals accrue vast wealth from national resources without direct involvement in their extraction, yet are labeled "self-made." The author contends that anyone utilizing existing infrastructure, technology, or natural resources is not genuinely self-made, suggesting even preachers rely on pre-existing texts and followers. Ultimately, the text posits that the term "self-made" is a construct designed to legitimize extravagant spending by the wealthy and deflect public scrutiny, as no individual truly creates wealth in isolation from societal resources.