No more cigars, is that humor? LOL

[ggiese]

I suspect there was not a LOT of research put into his theory about inherited wealth...

Per Forbes (in its dicussion of the worlds 400 richest people):

Two-thirds of the members of The Forbes 400 have fortunes that are entirely self-made, while only 19% of the group inherited their entire fortunes.

Link to the Forbes article

Which leads me back to the original hypothesis put forward by my grandfather (as salty as he was)...

If you strip the wealthy and distribute it evenly - what it took to be a billioniare does not change. The billionaire will use his business saavy and prowess to again become a billionaire - most likely off of the person who does not possess that same skillset. Contrary to what some like Julia Issacs may say - history has repeatedly taught us - it more truly about passion, and much less about "silver spoons"...