What is the bar for "wealthy background" and "founder". My parents clawed there way to what I would call middle class (most of the time). I am not a founder of a software product firm, but am a founder of a successful consulting firm. We are 4 years into it now.

On the executive front, yes, you are more likely to reach that level of position having a "wealthy background" but there are plenty who don't. Your odds of becoming a moderately successful executive of a medium sized business coming from a middle class background seem dramatically better than winning the tech startup lottery.

I dunno, I just think these categories are very broad and multi dimensional so that you can make decent arguments against the point that a wealthy background being required.