It's not really accurate to compare starting a startup to playing the lottery. There is a lot of luck involved, but it's not all luck. People who have certain qualities (e.g. determination, intelligence) do much better than those who don't. So for people who have those qualities, taking a shot at a startup will on average be a net win over the default plan of working for income.

It's also a bit dramatic to suggest that working on a startup = giving up your entire life. The hackers I've met who are working on startups generally seem happier than those who aren't. See for yourself:

http://paulmckellar.com/albums/42-Evan-Williams