TC by level versus TC by luck

I know many of us work really hard LCing and interviewing to get up leveled at our next jobs or work insane number of hours for that next promo just so that we are able to make more TC.

OTOH, Many of my friends have gotten lucky with a pre-ipo company that went public or a joining a company that had massive stock appreciation. All this while enjoying amazing WLB and staying at lower levels with little responsibilities but making more than the first group outlined earlier.

I know life isn't fair and the concept of risk vs reward but unable to fathom that one lucky move is all that they needed to be set for life.

What category would you like to fall under and why?

TC: 220k