Gates is the son of a wealthy corporate lawyer. He went to one of the only high schools in the US that allowed their students computer access at the time. If you consider his wealth "self-made", I'd like to know what you define as self-made. Bill Gates, Dreyfus, Hilton only prove rich parents can produce even richer kids. Buffet's father was a congressman, not exactly the definition of wealthy (although these days it is), but definitely enfranchised.