Perhaps starting your own business.
Most that I know who have done this have gone through considerable financial pain and heart-ache in the first few years of getting a business up and running - often just using savings instead of drawing a salary for 2 years or more. A couple of people I know (and worked for) have gone on to be very successful, making money that only a few of us can imagine. One in particular was made redundant in 1990, started his own business on the redundancy money (some 16K), eventually selling it and pocketing £260m in 2001 (yes you read the figure correctly). Someone lent him a £1000 when he was short of cash at the beginning, and got 1.5% of the company - that guy, an employee, made just over $15m in 7 years (not a bad investment). Still, he worked all hours, seven days a week, to make his business work, and had times where it was on the brink of going under.
Other's I know have failed, and lost everything; some brush themselves off and start again, others go back to a 'regular' day job.
Bizarrely, most of these people have an interest in General aviation. The guy who lost everything, had to sell his warbird and his twin when the lawyers came to repossess everything. 10 years later, he has started a new business, and has his own plane again, and a couple of houses dotted around the world.
In reality, all are just like wannabes, although for most, it can be a very hard, tough and unforgiving world. I suppose some get addicted to it, as it can be fun and rewarding, as much as flying.