‘I reached Rs 1 cr net worth before turning 26, but stress broke me’: Bengaluru techie says he ‘lost hair, drank alcohol’

The poster, an IIT graduate from a middle-class background, credited the “IIT tag” for opening doors in his career. While financial stability has allowed him to live comfortably, from eating healthy and staying fit to pursuing hobbies, he admitted that it has also changed his relationship with money. “I can splurge (read ‘waste’) money, without much consequences. I have games on my PS5 worth tens of thousands that I haven’t played for more than 30 mins… I fly premium economy most of the time, and get business class upgrades 1-2 times a year,” he shared.

But alongside the perks, he was candid about the hidden costs of achieving the goal. “While the financial freedom spoils you, the stress from work is extremely high. Quite literally, it breaks you down. I have lost hair, lost weight, at times drank alcohol very frequently just to cope with it. In my defense, I am taking better care of myself now.”

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Reached 1 crore net worth at 25. All self made as a salaried employee
by
u/confused_aatma_999 in
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The thread soon went viral, with Redditors offering both praise and caution. One user wrote, “Please do not drink alcohol alone when you are stressed… Someone I know lost his life because of alcohol addiction. If you are stressed, go out with friends or work out, and limit alcohol intake as a stress buster (especially alone).”

Another user pointed out, “You are probably not reaching 10 million from a job in India anytime soon… First reach a million. You will understand that it is not as easy.” Another added the reality check: “Sad part is, you can’t even buy a decent 2BHK with 1 cr in Bangalore. Loan is the only way.”

Some also encouraged him to think about giving back. When asked about philanthropy, the techie admitted he hasn’t done much yet, but has considered sponsoring education or medical treatments in the future. “Giving away money still feels hard, apart from the small stuff like tipping and all,” he said, while adding that he has made small contributions, including donations to Wikipedia and a dog rescue initiative.