>It's not just the successes themselves - it's what the parents teach.
>
>And sometimes it is just the unique personality of the child and other influences (non-parental) in his or her life. I had plenty of friends who came from wealthy families when I was growing up. Many of them are dead now and some are in prison.

Exactly.
My bio-father was born to privilege.

He had some depression issues when young, but his biggest problem was his attitude.
The attitude that led him to the life of a hobo.
I have read that living on the streets will make anybody nuts - it seems true in this case.

Lucky me, my mother somehow held our household together and taught her children to be responsible for themselves.

Did I achieve the same material success as my Ivy League cousins?
NO.

But I am satisfied to own a home and support my family - the standard American Dream.
It is pretty good.