“self-made”
What 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” can obscure the role played by an individual’s background, social supports, and systemic factors in their present achievements. 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.