“self-made”
Last updatedWhat to know
Self-made is a descriptor used for someone who built a business or established a fortune on their own, rather than inheriting some or all of it; however, terms like self-made and the closely related adage of “pulling oneself up by the bootstraps” are part of a generalized mythos around wealth and success.
Stories about “self-made people” or “rags to riches” may be an opportunity to portray how an individual’s background and systemic factors played a role in their present success and/or wealth. The bootstraps euphemism in particular is often leveraged against lower-income, nonwhite individuals.
Additional resources
- Here’s What Forbes Means by Self-Made: From Bootstrappers to Silver Spooners (Forbes)
- Nearly 68% of the world’s richest people are ‘self-made,’ says new report (CNBC)
- Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father (New York Times)
Summary
Self-made refers to someone who purportedly established a business or amassed a fortune on their own. However, stories about “self-made people” or “rags to riches” may be an opportunity to portray how an individual’s background and systemic factors played a role in their present success and/or wealth. The bootstraps euphemism in particular is often leveraged against lower-income, nonwhite individuals.