Being smart and talented isn't enough to make you successful, according to new research. The world's most successful people are simply the luckiest, a simulation of a thousand 40-year careers shows. While we know luck plays a role in success, scientists say that up until now its influence has been widely underestimated. Being smart and talented isn't enough to make you successful, according to new research. The world's most successful people are simply the luckiest (stock image) Previous research has shown that top performers are often the luckiest people, who have benefited from rich-get-richer dynamics that boost their initial fortune.