I turned 28 in 1996.
My birthday present to myself was flying lessons.
I was working some dead-end job to pay for the lessons.

That's about it. No wife or kids, and my vehicle was a beater Benz.
I was sort of expecting to die in a fiery but spectacular crash, so I had no retirement savings or investments.

Now it's 12 years later and I still don't have any retirement savings or investments. But I'm married now, so I'm still hoping for a fiery but spectacular crash.

I was bumming around asia, beaches, backpacking, diving, booze, sex. Now 33, recently separated, working, and thinking about going back to my lifestyle of 28.

Hee, Hee.
Yes, more or less, primarily development work and real estate investments.
I bought everything I could afford with the profits I had.
Also had two partners at age 28 and bought them out by age 30 too.

Had a great day today.... my partner and I just made a million bucks each for just being in the right place at the right time! Guy with 50 acres of prime development land is giving it to us to develop; he's heard a bunch of good things about us and wants us to develop it for him, pay him when we sell the lots... $15,000/lot. We'll start with a 100 lot parcel over about 25 acres.

Still in the "ifcome" category, but a good day to say the least!

Cheers,

Kudos to you! Profit is made when you buy, not when you sell.