Is rising from "Rags to Riches", like Andrew Carnegie, possible? Why?

   I think that it is possible for an individual to rise from "rags to riches", but in a different way than how Andrew Carnegie did.
   Back then, money was worth a lot more than it does now. People could possible make five dollars a day and be happy. But in modern times, money worth is decreasing. The elderly, grandparents, and other older relatives say today that you could pay a nickel back then, just to get something that costs a dollar now. Dollar worth is decreasing because of inflation, which is the rise of prices causing the decrease in worth.
   The way I would think that people could rise from "rags to riches" is by luck with the lottery or going to school and getting a degree, which could get someone a job that pays well. Also, if you use your money in a smart way, you could be the next to have the next best business in the U.S.