This story is not that far from Steve Jobs'. Steve was also abandoned by his parents; although via a more legit adoption, and it also played a role in how he fueled his success.
These are outdated narratives. Network effects are much more the cause of success of such people ie where they were geographically and who they were surrounded by - https://www.nfx.com/post/your-life-network-effects/
I have always thought that the particular combination in place for setting Steve Jobs on his course was the doting devotion of his older than typical dedicated and adoring adoptive parents and the fact that he was a pretty boy to his social advantage when at high school. This combination created a manipulating and charming young man who could talk to older people and command respect of less experienced peers in the necessary ways to organise their energies.