I come from a family in which there is no single person who has remained an employee over time. I am a dedicated freelancer, my husband is an entrepreneur, my parents are independents, my brother is independent, my uncles (from both sides of the family) are independents.
It's not always a matter of investment in the purpose of becoming rich, sometimes all you can do it not work for another person, because it will drive you nuts.

As a freelancer, I'm doing much better than I would have in the employment market, mainly because I don't have to deal with annoying bosses and forced-upon colleagues, and I can expand my business to any interesting direction I may find (I do that, I currently have three different businesses, and in my main business of editing and translation I'm known for being an interdisciplinary professional, which only a few people can really do well, I believe). However, I'm not doing that in order to be rich. Sure, it would be a nice outcome, but I just want to work and live the way I want to work and live, and make it through the month well. I wouldn't have been able to do that as an employee, I guarantee that...