His approach, known as 'Reganomics' - did indeed allow for more wealth and money to be accumulated, but by the already affluent. Therefore, his policies would help a man like Gekko to amass great quantities of wealth and riches - as he indeed does in the movie. The attitude of the decade seemed to be work hard, play hard - and all the rest will follow. Wealth was seen as something that was easily accessible to all those who wanted it - it was simply a matter of getting it. There is easy money to be made in start-ups and dot coms.
Young people can be millionaires before they even hit their twenties.
People like Sabeer Bhatia of 'Hotmail' fame have set the standards. As we see in both movies, it is made by sometimes unlawful means, and controlled by these same unethical people. The occurrence of these immense amounts of wealth is advertised by the spending of the main characters in the films. This is in the form of trade unions for Blue Star airlines. Charlie Sheen, who learns of Gekko's intent to double-cross him and liquidate the company, thwarts his plans.