Don't forget the ones who started with zero and still here are the 1% left. 99% are back flipping burgers or what ever.
This business is the same as any other, you need something to start up. Money, time, equipment, skills, talent and sweat are all required.
Then go and study it for 6 months.
I started 28 years ago, already had a camera, skills to shoot, skills to get girls naked, marketing skills, a model, bit of money and time. Put them together and three months later was making a nice living selling photographs via the post.