This is a gross misunderstanding of the concept of privilege. The idea is not that Gates or Buffet's work had nothing to do with their success but that their work got them farther, per unit (if you could define such a thing), than would someone with less access to privileged parts of society.
Someone who's parents can't send them to college will obviously have to work harder than someone for whom a college education is assured. Someone who lives in a connected family will have to work less hard to be connected themselves.
In particular, this:
> The privilege we're all enjoying right now - all of this easily accessible, relatively cheap, amazing technology - is beyond anything being born to a successful Seattle lawyer is worth.
Seems anything but given to me. And you don't really make a compelling argument for it. That said, Bill Gates clearly had access to both technology and connections beyond average means, so I'm not sure what it has to do with anything.
Someone who's parents can't send them to college will obviously have to work harder than someone for whom a college education is assured. Someone who lives in a connected family will have to work less hard to be connected themselves.
In particular, this:
> The privilege we're all enjoying right now - all of this easily accessible, relatively cheap, amazing technology - is beyond anything being born to a successful Seattle lawyer is worth.
Seems anything but given to me. And you don't really make a compelling argument for it. That said, Bill Gates clearly had access to both technology and connections beyond average means, so I'm not sure what it has to do with anything.