>the fortune that was simply being born into a first world democracy
Neither necessary nor sufficient. It's easier to get that kind of money if you ware born into a small elite in a resource-rich and/or poverty stricken country.
Absolutely - alas, my 'privilege' is the first world democracy kind, as I was not fated to be born the son of a Russian oligarch on the cusp of the collapsing Soviet Union.
Which is for the best, because then I likely would have ended up supporting Chelsea in the English Premier League.
[Edit] Further to pessimizer's reply below, but responding here so the thread doesn't disintegrate. Note that the only reason I raised "first world democracy" was because Alex raised how "privileged" I am. My "privilege" is where I was born, and that was in a first world democracy.
I think I completely agree with your point that being born where I was doesn't of necessity deliver me $15M or $30M, which is why I keep putting "privilege" in air quotes.
The "first-world democracy" part has very little to do with being the 15 million dollar kind of privileged. The 15-millionaires-to-population ratio is probably similar in Britain and Kazakhstan (but probably higher in Kazakhstan.)
reply to edit: I'm trying to say that the privilege that makes you 15-30 million is something other than simply where you were born, not that it doesn't exist. That's why I'm not putting scare quotes around it. Being born in a kleptocracy if anything makes you more likely to have 15 million, rather than less.
Neither necessary nor sufficient. It's easier to get that kind of money if you ware born into a small elite in a resource-rich and/or poverty stricken country.