@H_A_Copington There are generally two avenues to wealth: Sell overpriced products to the wealthy or sell vast quantities of cheap junk to many people. Second option generally requires massive startup capital, unless you're doing something computer related.

The "Small Business" is dying due to giant corporations doing everything cheaper and faster (not necessarily better), so the opportunities for becoming wealthy from nothing are fewer. Then there's the simple fact that if you double population you're going to have prices of scarce goods (land) go up.