Wage-growth is conceptually different from the gains from trade within an economy. An isolated individual who doesn't trade(eg subsistence farmer) would produce goods of value of an order of magnitude less than current US GDP per capita.
Similarly, your hypothetical individual who 'makes someone worse off' must by definition be inheriting some scarce asset, be lucky, deceptive, coercive or inflicting negative externalities. Otherwise why would anyone trade with him?
This is not to say that inequality isn't a problem or greater redistribution would not be desirable. But you need to frame the problem correctly.
Similarly, your hypothetical individual who 'makes someone worse off' must by definition be inheriting some scarce asset, be lucky, deceptive, coercive or inflicting negative externalities. Otherwise why would anyone trade with him?
This is not to say that inequality isn't a problem or greater redistribution would not be desirable. But you need to frame the problem correctly.