Yes to the plateau level concept of post #19.
H and I are physicians who know many others with doctor level degrees. Many whose kids go on to college but not to a MD, DMD (DDS) or PhD level like a parent. Our own middle range gifted (grade skipping and top test scores et al) kid stopped at a bachelors (says CS doesn’t need more and intellectually satisfied) while know many other elite intelligence kids who pursued other fields, such as MBA’s or other masters level degrees.
With highly educated parents it is hard to outdo them. Plus with financial security and some insights into lifestyles many choose different paths. Not as driven as I was. Hoped for more for son but in a way he is better off without getting a math PhD and job hunting or living in an undesirable place. It took some getting used to the fact that son is not interested in going as far as possible academically. He does software development (engineering depending on the title given by a company) and not research as he pointed out to me. Plenty of research opportunities and some grad level courses in college for his honors math, added the CS major.
When I look back at more gifted than I friends I see where they were never as driven as I was to achieve. I also see where those with better middle income family upbringings had less concern about security (btw- we, and son, are fairly frugal).
I wonder about kids of rich businessmen who are used to luxury but not used to living on a salary they could generate. What do they do when used to high end spending habits and living in luxury? Most of the physicians I know may have the income but not the ostentatious lifestyles.
Different concepts of being successful. Financial, educational and being satisfied with one’s work.