I am curious by what measure you regard Trump as successful? His vaunted deal-making and business building skills have so lagged the market that had he invest his inheritance in index funds (or rather chosen an investment strategy to mirror the S&P 500 since index funds are a new invention) he would have twice the net worth he claims to have (and a little under 5 times what some outside observers peg his net worth at).
It is quite possible that had you (or I) inherited as much money as Donald J. Trump did, you (or I) would be much richer than he is. Of course either of us might have done worse, too,. Still, I don’t see anything amazing or successful in underperforming that stock market, even (or perhaps especially) when it is done with lots of deal-making and braggadocio.
Is the market the measure of success? If so, why would a person start a winery, paint paintings, build homes, etc? Why would a person race cars or go to the moon when you can just sit back and watch your money fluxuate from one set of zeros to more zeros while sitting on a yacht somewhere with other idle rich.
You do it because you’re creative, you do it because it’s hard, you do it because it’s your calling. I suppose there’s a place for fund managers in this world...but they don’t create tangible items of beauty and value..instead they bet on other people’s creations.