Being not financially supported I paid by the hour working at a gas station and a steel mill later to get my initial ratings. Then working as a flight instructor and charter pilot getting my ME and ATP and a few corporate jet type ratings. A couple years then flying corporate in a 4 engine Jetstar was lucky enough to get my first airline job with a small company flying 737s. Most of this time was PIC but when I got my airline job I was lucky to get hired with 5500 hrs and 1500 jet, most PIC because the competition was fierce.
My pay was 700 per month on probation for one year which went to 19 months do to a furlough but I was happy. The largest airline in the US then bought us and I retired with a good sum.
I guess that is why I am not sympathetic to the pilot mill guys who now will have to pay some dues as I did not being able to have Daddy put them in the right seat of an airliner with 250 hrs.