You are all over thinking it.
These days, credit card companies THROW themselves at young adults. Get a part time job, get a starter $500 credit card, make a few payments.
In 3 months, sign up for a $10k credit card. Chit, the offer envelope from these companies have blank checks to write for cash, which is how you actually sign up. Or, he saved it (less likely).
but he didn't get an envelope of cash from some deep state operative. Get a grip.
