Secondary analysis of life success studies in Russia shows centeredness on family values, communication, intersting job, reliable friends, acitve life strategy. Results of a survey among student youth in Volga Federal disctrict permitted to conclude linkage of life success of the students here to their own efforts and family support. In ideas of both Russians and the youth, however, significance of ties and acquaintances in contempoary life comes to the forefront, as well as tendency towards incompatibility of success with moral principles. Specifics of ideas about life success are found out with regard to gender, nationality and region