That guy that works in a refinery definitely makes way more than $50k. Oil & gas pays very well, especially with overtime.
But you don’t know their financial situation in any case. I know people that own houses because they got lucky. They knew someone that was selling and they got a good deal, or they happened to buy right before COVID and everything jumped. Or their family contributed, or they have something they inherited. Or they just financed everything and they’re in debt up to their eyeballs.