What is a "typical" job? (scratches head) It sounds like you are defining a successful person as someone with a disposable income.

I think this thread is a great idea, but at the same time, I think this definition of success is way too narrow because there have been people with mental illness who have made great contributions to society, and yet never made much money or rose very high in their institutions or professions, if at all.

For example, John Nash was extremely schizophrenic, yet was ostracized at his university and made so little money his wife had to support them. Yet he was given the Nobel Prize for Economics and subsequently, a movie was made about him. (And much has been written about him.)

Van Gogh was mentally ill (they don't know with what) and his work was despised in his time, and he was very poor. Yet now he's considered one of the words greatest artists. Other artists, poets, and writers have similar stories.

Also, this definition above also rules out genius, dedicated teachers who have change their student's lives yet never made much money or rose up the ladder at their schools. Same thing for social workers. In truth, a lot of incredible people in these "human services" type fields never get any recognition until someone makes a movie of their lives--but that's how incredible they are/were.

Personally, I think if your contribution to society is so great they write books about your work, and make movies about your work, then you are successful no matter how much money you make or how high up the professional ladder you go.

Just my two cents.

--Ceara1010