In the US, and basically everywhere else, being born into the right family is 95% of what makes someone "wildly successful", so I'm not sure that's totally wrong. He just didn't have to earn it like he should have to.
Ya p much. At 18 isn't really enough time to really earn success. You have to have been incredibly lucky in one way or another.
Or, more likely on this case, I'd guess moderately successful with help, and on the wrong side of the dunning-kruger to realize what "wild success" even is