<prompt> Human: I was just over at rcars and someone posted a pic of their new Lambo and at least a third of the comments not the highest voted, thankfully were subtly or not so subtly asking how the poster made their money or implying that it was immorally or undeservedly gotten, which of course made the poster appropriately defensive, but the whole thing got me thinking.If you go look up a list of top median salaries by profession, they typically range in the 80-120K for STEM workers and managers, 120-160K for senior executives, and about that or more for well paid lawyers, doctors, etc. Statistics like those, however, dont account for non-wage compensation like ownership profit shares, stock options, etc. which are a big part of compensation in more lucrative careers, nor for self-made income through investment or other methods.Maybe there are books or better stats out there that Ive missed, but heres my attempt to characterize pros and cons of different high income methods:Climbing the Corporate Ladder: This probably the most straightforward, but because of that, theres plenty of competition which can get notoriously dirty and success with this method can depend more on politics and connections than simply being good at your job. It also has a relatively high cost of entry, likely requiring an MBA andor other advanced degrees, but compensation can range from 200K-1MMGoing Out on Your Own: Consultancies, partnerships, small businesses, etc. This seems to be a sweet spot for business savvy people in an industry that can support small-to-medium businesses. Most people successful in this arena have a background with a more established company where they developed contacts, familiarity with the industry they work in, and a work history to attract clients. Has a comparatively low cost of entry in terms of resume-style qualifications, but possibly higher in terms of actual skills, and compensation seems to concentrate in the 300-800K range.Being Able to Do What No One Else Can: Athletes, rock stars, entrepreneurs, etc. Sort of an extreme version of the above, this doesnt seem to be something you can pursue predictably and so the cost of entry is arguably indeterminably high, but simply having skills that no one can match in a lucrative field leads to seemingly unbounded income. The big problems are possibly very short career either due to fast moving competition or difficult to predict setbacks, and difficulty finding work afterward, but can often lead into Going Out on Your Own in a related small business afterward.Income Investing: Managed real estate, franchises or other investment methods. High capital cost of entry, typically 200K-300K, but seems pretty reliable compared to other methods.Obviously people mix and match, especially mixing income investing with above methods and Being Able to Do What No One Else Can is often the result of having a patent or distribution rights for some in demand product developed through a consultancypartnership, but pursuing these four, overcoming their hurdles and pitfalls seem to be the way most people who make it above and beyond typical incomes manage to do it.Am I missing significant methods, are there any proscons to these that Ive missed?  <response>: Hell, Id be thrilled with 50 or 60. 