There is no quick, easy, certain or best path to wealth.
Different groups have wildly different definitions of "rich". What would be considered "rich" to one group would only be considered "merely affluent" in another group.
In some parts of the United States if you have 3 million in assets, people ask you to sit on the boards. In New York, you are poor unless you have 10 million in assets and then you are "merely affluent" (AKA not "rich") . You are not "wealthy" until 30 million.
If you have 10 million in assets, there are 100,000 people in the United States who are more successful than you. If you have 30 million, there are ~90,000 people in the US who are wealthier than you are.
Most people with 5 or 10 million in assets do not "feel rich". They may own two vacation homes, but they still worry about retirement and eating through their savings. They have to sell their homes and accept a lower standard of living during retirement. They have friends who have more money, have nicer homes and jets. They do not feel rich.
At every level of the income hierarchy in America, people only see the people who are slightly above them and slightly below them in the hierarchy. No matter how far up you go you will have friends who are more successful than you are. You will compare what you have against what they have and will never "feel rich" in comparison.
Nearly every very wealthy person in the US today is either a business owner or works in the financial services industry. There are a small percentage of middle managers and engineers who received equity in a rapidly growing company at a low valuation, however they rarely breakthrough 5-15 million. There are a larger number of "executives" who achieve a 10 million dollar net worth from equity grants.
Above 15 million, there are no surefire paths to wealth. Every wealthy person achieved their wealth at this level in a different way, but almost always through business ownership or working in specific positions in a financial services industry.
There are however clear paths to not becoming wealthy. For example, if you go to law school and become a lawyer making 300k a year. Between AMT, FICA, state and federal taxes you will take home approximately 150k. If you saved 100% of you income, it would take you twenty years to save up 3 million dollars (ignoring investment income, interest, etc..). It would take you over 60 years at this salary to achieve "not poor" levels of wealth by NYC standards. If you spend any of your money, it will take you longer.
No one becomes wealthy on salary. All substantial wealth comes from long term capital gains and sometimes from dividends. Otherwise they have nothing in common.
For more information see:
An Investment Manager's View on the Top 1% http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesame...
The New Elite http://amzn.to/HIhckR