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The quickest, surest buck is earned by doctors. Their household incomes average $74,000, vs. $83,000 for presidents of companies with 25 employees or more. But practicing physicians strike it rich when younger (their average age is 47, vs. 54 for presidents), and there are more of them in the U.S. (275,000, vs. 137,000 company presidents). Rewards are even greater for risk-taking entrepreneurs. The corner druggist who opens a chain of stores is a Norman Rockwell hero, and he often earns far more money—and gets far less flak—than a drug company chief. A lucky Texas wildcatter is looked upon as a sturdy independent, and he can buy and sell an oil company middle manager. A large crowd of Holiday Inn, Coca-Cola and Roto-Rooter franchisees, real estate brokers, art dealers and liquor distributors are good for $500,000 or more, year after year. Given the multiplying value of their land, probably more farmers and ranchers than corporate executives have a net worth above a million.
So despite those bold headlines of big pay for some higher-up hired hands, an old fact remains true: America still reserves its richest rewards not for those few who climb in corporate hierarchies, but for the many who dare, who risk, and who go into business for themselves.