What are some realistic ways to get rich in 5 years?

Work for (x) the very best possible person you can at (y) the very best possible start-up/successful tech co.

It’ll be tight in 5 years, but it’s your best odds.

If you work for someone truly great, they will mentor you, at least, inadvertently.  This is a career turbocharger.  You can then at least take this in 2-3 into a higher paying, more equity gig at at Even Better Start-Up.  Or you’ll get promoted and some serious equity at the one you join.

And …

Try to pick well.   I know it’s hard.  But there are power laws for early employees, and even later employees, as well.  Your equity will be worth almost nothing at most start-ups.  But at the ones worth $5b+ … employees that join before a $500m valuation or so almost always do pretty well.  The early employees — often really well.