I think the key indicator for wealth is not good grades, work ethic, or IQ. I believe it's relationships. Ask yourself two questions: How many people do I know, and how much ransom money could I get for each one?

This quote suggests that wealth — which can mean having access to resources, comfort and luxury — is not determined by having good grades, strong work ethic or a high IQ. Instead, the quote argues that the key factor for wealth is relationships – the people you know. To illustrate the importance of relationships, the quote poses two questions to the reader: How many people do I know and how much ransom money could I get for each one. This is meant to show that, as a part of having good relationships, knowing more people makes you more likely to have access to resources.