The third which did not was pretty much evenly divided between the wealthy, whose parents were able to make up the difference, and the poor who got a combination of government grants, do nothing work-study jobs and the like.
The guy in the article worked in computer software sales making six figures and was top sales person for three years. That sounds like a pretty good fire for a 26 year old. Now he’s traveled the world, and does plan on having a family and “normal” life later. I could sure see his point about looking ahead to a lifetime of sitting behind a desk with two weeks vacation a year and not being comfortable with that future.