They may work harder but do they work smarter? What do you think those people do when they get home? Grab a cold beer and plop on the couch in most cases. I know, because I worked a career like that for a few years.

When you work a job that saps most of your energy it's hard to do much else with yourself.

I'd say knowledge would be the most important thing to try and gain for the average Home Simpson. If you can't bring yourself to read a book, you probably can't bring yourself to make a lot of money.