For most people it requires a lot of luck in the genetics department - looks, intelligence, physical potential. For example, no matter how hard I try I could never be tall enough or strong enough or fast enough to play professional sports.

Even for those people, it usually requires a lot of work too in order to be THAT successful. So, for those who don't win the genetic lottery but work really hard, or those who are gifted but don't work really hard, they will often need a little cheating to reach that 0.01% of high income earners.

For people who aren't gifted AND don't work hard, they have the actual lottery to get their millions.