"Successful people create companies. More successful people create countries. The most successful people create religions."
Successful people
From Sam Altman's blog, pre-OpenAI
The moster successfullest implement eugenics. The mostest successfullest peoplest createst fascest ethnostatest
The number of people who created countries can be counted on one hand, especially if they're successful.
Simon Bolivar helped a lot of people do it, but did not reap much material reward for doing so, apart from being a rich criollo to begin with.
Napoleon famously redrew the map of Europe, and most people would call him successful in many regards. Sama having a Napoleon complex would be on brand.
Any other examples ?
Do the founders of religions usually get much out of it? Jesus was nailed to a cross.
Paul did all right
Isn't that a mangled L Ron Hubbard quote?
Yes, although the veracity of the quote is uncertain; see here for discussion. This is the commonly-cited form that you'll find all over the Internet:
Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man wants to make a million dollars, then the best way would be to start his own religion.~ Lafayette Ron Hubbard
IIRC, it wasn’t Hubbard who said this, but Ayn Rand, who, at a cocktail party, bet him that he couldn’t start a religion and make money from it.