self-made men

Self-made men are those who achieved wealth, success, or prominence through their own efforts rather than inheritance or family connections.

The term carries admiration for individual ambition and hard work: He loved telling the story of self-made men who started with nothing.

The phrase reflects a particularly American ideal, though critics note it often understates advantages of circumstance, race, or class.

The singular self-made man is more common; self-made woman exists but appears less frequently.