Jack London went through a lot to actually become a successful man. He worked when he was a boy, he was a homeless man, he divorced with his wife, his house burned, he quit college in his first year, but he ended up to be very wealthy. Right when things started to go good for him he died. I can't imagine being poor now, but being poor a long time ago sounds worse. His writing must have inspired a lot of people for him to go from homeless to rich.