If you want to be in the top 10% and get there before you are old you need to get a lot of people making money for you.

You have to start a business, hire a lot of people, and get them to work and make money for you.

The rich are owners, the poor are workers.

Even with your phd, you are a worker and not even a secure worker since you don't yet have tenure. Do you have a union? I think you are part of the precariat. Even in your gig side hustle you are a one person show.

I too was part of the precariat working professional class. Before ACA I needed a job with medical insurance since my wife had aa expensive pre-existing condition.