All you need is a great idea and one hell of a lot of hard work.

Two quotes for you to consider:

Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.

Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.

Thomas Edison

There is an idea out there that has the potential to make you independently wealthy. But, before that can happen, you need to find it, correctly identify it (even harder to do) and then work your ass off to bring it to fruition. Even then you'll need some good luck. At any time a stroke of bad luck can wipe you out--ill health, financial market collapses, earthquakes and fires can all cause years of work to vanish overnight.

If, despite all this, you see something, want to go for it, do so. Just don't expect it to be an easy and sure path. Otherwise we'd be hanging out in the Bohemian Grove instead of hacking all day.

My plan is to play in ways that interest me and that pay my bills. It's worked out OK, so far. I'm not rich, but I am not starving. By all means, I'll keep my eyes open-- in case the million-dollar-whatsit happens to catch my attention; but I'm not counting on it.