For any new invention, the early users are normally the beneficiaries. In the case of bitcoin, I am very sure the people who were first to mine and use it are the biggest beneficiaries and have made huge profits from it. If the price of bitcoin was at one time $50 and now it is ranging over $650, then whoever held on the coins from that time must be a rich man or woman. I hope even for us, if we continue holding on it now, we might be rich people in 2 to 3 years to come when the price might probably be above $1000.
Yes it is like the beta testers or beta users. That is why many people are also trying to do that with altcoins. Look at ETH many also trusted that from the start and never given up. Look how much its price now. I guess it will still be on how many years your trust can take.