A latinum stairway was a Ferengi idiom for an opportunity that would bring great advancement.
In 2370, Quark told Arjin "you only get one shot at the latinum stairway and if you miss it, you miss it." (DS9: "Playing God")
The Star Trek Encyclopedia, 4th ed., vol. 1, p. 456 defined "latinum stairway" as a slang term in the Ferengi culture for business success.