I don't agree with this at all. Having a high level of intellect doesn't mean one has the worldly experience to navigate life's obstacles. These children, intelligent as they are, are still children, and impressionable by adults especially when they are young. All it takes is a few years in the early period of development for a budding genius' potential to be clamped. There are many reasons so many end up not doing well. I don't mean by merely the financial measure as noted elsewhere in this thread, but across the board, in that they end up not fulfilling their potential to achieve great things. For some the biggest contributing factor is having one of many different kinds of negative parental and adult influences at an early age.