Our Gemara on Amud Beis explores the distribution of profits from inherited assets prior to dividing an estate. It discusses cases where one brother might contribute more effort or productivity, but the benefit may still be shared among all brothers if they’re supporting each other as part of a household. The Gemara states:

“If one of the brothers engaged in a trade of his own volition, the profits are his alone. The Sages taught in a baraisa (Tosefta 10:5): In the case of one of the brothers who was appointed as a tax collector or a military commander [polmustos], a position with the potential for profit, if he was appointed on account of all the brothers, any profit accrues to all the brothers. If he was appointed on account of himself, the profit accrues to himself.”

The Gemara probes this idea further, wondering why, if a brother is appointed on behalf of all, it isn’t obvious that his profits would also benefit all the brothers. The answer is that even if the brother was chosen due to his superior skills, if he was selected as a family representative, the profits are shared.

This discussion touches on a fundamental question: are individuals truly self-made, or does familial and social support often play a role in their success? Family often contributes in ways beyond financial capital—through social networks, emotional support, and even educational opportunities.

Donald Trump (may Hashem bless and protect him) famously illustrated this concept, remarking, “My father helped start me out with a small loan of $1 million, which I turned into an empire.” His statement underscores the complexity of assessing one’s success as purely self-made when family support—fiscal or otherwise—can be a considerable factor.

The underlying question here is whether the traits associated with wealth and success emerge because of financial security or whether those who succeed exhibit particular traits that drive their wealth accumulation. In a study by Leckelt et al. (2022), titled “The Personality Traits of Self-Made and Inherited Millionaires” (Humanities and Social Sciences Communications), researchers investigated the personality traits of those who amassed wealth on their own versus those who inherited it:

“It is currently unknown whether inheriting money and growing up rich leads to the development of a prototypical ‘rich’ personality profile, or whether a specific personality profile promotes self-made economic success.”

The study found striking differences between self-made millionaires and those with inherited wealth. Self-made individuals demonstrated high levels of risk tolerance, openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness, while scoring low in neuroticism. In contrast, inheritors exhibited low levels of risk tolerance, openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness, but higher levels of neuroticism.

These findings reflect common assumptions about wealth: those who earn their wealth often have to confront risks and demonstrate conscientiousness, skills that are honed through trial and perseverance. Their relative ease with risk-taking may reflect confidence gained through overcoming challenges. On the other hand, those who inherit wealth may lack exposure to the same hardships, which might lead to greater caution, lower risk tolerance, and even neuroticism due to fear of loss.

In light of the Gemara’s discussion, we see how Jewish law acknowledges both personal merit and communal bonds, requiring a balance between individual efforts and family contributions. The broader lesson is that while personal traits like confidence, conscientiousness, and risk tolerance are crucial to success, they do not exist in a vacuum. Family and social context play an often unseen but profound role in shaping these traits and the success they enable.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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