Given the recent success of some creative artists, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, who has risen from poverty to become a wealthy, famous actress and director, many believe that success in these fields is primarily the result of talent and hard work. However, a closer look at these artists reveals that they, too, have worked tirelessly, often for years, to achieve the level of success they have. Recent events involving Gwyneth Paltrow, however, highlight another factor that may play into a person’s creative success: luck. In 2015, Gwyneth Paltrow became the target of a smear campaign by tabloids, which claimed that she was addicted to drugs and alcohol. In 2011, Paltrow had published a book about her own struggles with addiction, and some people may have assumed that she fell into relapse. However, she apparently had no intention of giving up her sobriety, and in December 2014, she was named a spokeswoman for the Malibu Recovery Group. She was soon featured in advertisements for the group, and she encouraged other celebrities to seek treatment for addiction. Those people would be shocked to know that Paltrow, in early 2017, had an episode of mediocracy in which she appeared intoxicated, which upon first glance, may have led her to believe that she was sober. This incident has likely given her an impetus to sober up once and for all, and it will be interesting to see if she succeeds, or whether her career will suffer as a result of her relapse. Under normal circumstances, talent and hard work are the keys to success, but in the case of Gwyneth Paltrow, she may have received an unexpected boost of luck.