Several theoretical traditions offer insights into individual success in co
nventional activities. We extend this work suggesting that explanations of
success also apply to crime: although prosperity in licit or illicit activi
ties has several unique antecedents, success in either endeavor is influenc
ed by common factors. Most research on conventional success focuses on the
effects of human and social capital, and criminal forms of these are import
ant for illegal success. We argue that various aspects of conventional pers
onal capital - a heightened desire for wealth, a propensity for risk-taking
, a willingness to cooperate and competence - also play important roles in
both legal and illegal prosperity. We demonstrate the importance of various
types of capital, particularly the salience of personal capital, with data
on drug-selling income.