"A little hustle pays dividends long term."

Only if you're lucky too. Hustle by itself means nothing.

You're not wrong, but there is a large spectrum of success out there. It's not like you get only "one shot, one opportunity" (Eminem) or nothing. Yes there's also a spectrum of the work/reward ratio and sometimes it's skewed in a crappy way. For some people it's too easy and for some people it's too hard

Point is that reaching upper middle class and higher is totally feasible no matter your walk of life as long as you keep the hustle going. Success could only happen in one's late 30s though.

(There are of course overriding factors like having an abusive childhood or something like that. Systematic discrimination plays a big part too. But that's outside the scope of this particular thread)

"Point is that reaching upper middle class and higher is totally feasible no matter your walk of life as long as you keep the hustle going."

It's also unlikely, even just looking at it statistically.

Perhaps it's only unlikely because most people give up, and if you don't give up, it's much more likely.