This is a toxic side effect of the current work mentality of the US. This idea that just "working hard" results in the next Bill Gates.

Sure, working hard, being smart, and focusing is mandatory. But, to reach this level, it generally also requires the same backdoor access, and available resources people like Bill Gates (and this guy) had.

But people who are gaslighting themselves that, "they can do it too if they just work hard enough" don't want to admit that - without said access and support - the odds are nearly nil.