I actually have a theory that I included in my own fan-made story. He had an easy, wonderful childhood at first. His parents, however, had differing views on how to raise him. His mom wanted him to live more like the average pony- you know, go to a normal school, befriend middle-class ponies, and so on- but his father was very arrogant and stern. He was a stallion who believed that money and status are everything, and if you had neither of those things, you weren't deserving of respect or even recognition. So, he shunned his only sun, bullying him, tormenting him every day, forcing him to act like a complete dick to every lower-class pony he met. In this regard, at least, he has a lot in common with Diamond Tiara.