History suggests that being in business or the military are the best ways for someone who hasn't held any political offices to become president but obviously I don't think you could argue that Eisenhower or Trump were ordinary.
I would say the media more than “business.” Yes, Reagan was Governor of California first, but he only got THAT job thanks to being an actor, and that helped propel him to the top of his party and ultimately the nomination as well. Yes, Trump was a “businessman,” but he played one on TV more than he really was one. Celebrity and name recognition are huge. I doubt an “ordinary” businessman without either, even if he was actually more successful than Trump, could get anywhere. Nor could an ordinary soldier for that matter; a high-ranking general/nationally beloved war hero like Eisenhower, Grant, Washington is obviously a totally different matter.
Of course, it’s quite common for people to use their business/military experience to run for lower office first, then work their way up. But that doesn’t mean they’d have any luck trying to leap straight to the presidency. Only celebrities could do that, be they celebrities in business, media, or the military.
