It wasn't praise — just an observation about how grades and class standing aren't always a good predictor of success.

(I never met Joe Jamail, but by reputation there was a lot about him that I didn't especially admire.)

The problem is your identifying success with becoming a billionaire. To me, in the contrary, it's the telltale of a profoundly broken society.

I don't disagree that the existence of billionnaires is problematic (especially given the Supreme Court's abominable decision in Citizens United).

But it's beyond rational dispute that Joe Jamail was one of the most successful trial lawyers of our era.