Many years ago, when I was a worker at a company, I heard about the history of my company. Our chairman of the board is an uneducated man, and comes from the underworld, but he rose through his own courage and daring as well as through connections. Meanwhile, all employees such as general directors, executive directors and below of the company have master's, university, college degrees...So is it true to say that people without high education, without degrees, will never have the opportunity to earn more money than people with high education?
As I said, there is no single formula or path that leads us to wealth, there are thousands, millions of ways to help us become successful and rich. Just because we haven't experienced it, seen it, or are incapable of doing it, doesn't mean others will be like us.
As you wrote, it's a matter of several years ago, so the answer to your question is already present in your question. Earning money and living life was not as difficult as it has become today. In the past, there was no such competition, and even a few years ago, there was no such inflation as there is today. As time passes, competition is getting tougher and tougher, so no one can deny the importance of education.
I'm not saying that those who don't have an education can't do anything; hard work is something that doesn't let you go hungry, but education is like the light of the eyes. If you have an education, you can easily get everything that an illiterate person might get after years of hard work.
Education gives us awareness and confidence. If someone is very lucky, they can achieve such success with the support of people and hard work, which even educated people might not be able to achieve. Many times, it depends on luck, but 90% of the reality is that the importance and usefulness of education are very high, and in today's era, being educated is very necessary.