A seasoned entrepreneur who made millions from selling several tech companies has some simple advice for young Americans looking to get ahead in a cutthroat economic climate.
Scott Galloway says the most important starting point is to get a quality education to maximise your income, then maximise your opportunities by moving to one of the world’s “super cities”.
Speaking with Steve Bartlett on his podcast, “Diary of a CEO,” Galloway said these two lifestyle changes, along with a little bit of luck, could make a big difference in a young person’s life.
“My best advice would be to get certified. We live in the Linkedin economy,” Galloway said.
Scott Galloway, pictured, said earning a degree from a reputable institution is the best way to start on the path to wealth.

After college, the next step in the pursuit of wealth is to move to a big city like Milan, Munich, London, San Francisco, or New York, pictured.
“On average, people with a college degree can earn 50 to 100 percent more over their lifetime. There are many industries that are off-limits to those without qualifications.”
He also suggests that the best way to attract wealth in life is to move to a big city like Milan, Munich, London, San Francisco or New York and surround yourself with wealth.
He said two-thirds of economic growth over the next 30 years will come from the world’s 20 biggest cities.
But with the World Bank estimating that more than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities, it might just be worth it.
Still, some cities are doing better than others, said Galloway, who is also a marketing professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
“Being great in San Francisco is a lot better than being great in Stuttgart,” he said, referring to the southern German city of about 630,000 people. “The smartest thing I ever did was be born in California.”
Galloway said getting to the city essentially puts him in the big leagues and allows him to compete with the best.
“When you’re in town, it’s like playing against Serena Williams every day. Everyone’s smart, everyone’s well-dressed, everyone’s working hard, everyone’s taking opportunities. And you’re surrounded by highly successful people who are taking professional and personal opportunities every day.”
He adds that it’s best to move to a city while you’re young and without being tied down with additional responsibilities.

Galloway grew up in Los Angeles and said much of his luck in business and life comes from being born there.
“You can be in the city when you’re young, you can live in a 400-square-foot apartment and be outside all day,” he says. “You should do it when you’re young, because once you start getting dogs and kids like you did in your 30s, you’re not going to be able to afford to stay in New York.”
But before that, earning a degree is essential to living the exciting, risk-taking lifestyle of a big city, Galloway said.
That’s because the cost of living in cities is high and always has been.
Especially now, after years of runaway inflation that has made housing, food and everything else dramatically more expensive for Americans.
To put this in perspective, someone with a bachelor’s degree would make roughly $1,493 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The data shows that the median weekly income for someone with only a high school diploma is just $899.
But ultimately, Galloway said his advice applies to people who want to become “economic animals.”
“Some people might say, ‘Scott, that’s the way you do it. It’s not the right way. I want to coach football in a little village on the Amalfi Coast. I’ll run a little bakery and make 55,000 euros and live a really good life.’ Good luck,” he explained.
“The majority of young people I speak to recognize that in a capitalist society, wealth equates to importance and love, and they want to live a very financially secure life.”