OK. Opportunity at every turn. Wealth only if they took advantage of that opportunity.
Luck has something to do with. Many who become rich do so at least partially because they are in the right place at the right time.
Others, equally hard-working and dedicated, never really get ahead because of their own circumstances.
I must admit, however, that in this country over the last few decades few who are competent and willing to work hard have been mired in severe poverty. They may not have gotten rich, but they’ve done ok.
At this point, I'm not sure we're talking about the same planet. And you have given no clue as to what you consider "hardship" ... so we may not be even in the same Solar System.