A Bengaluru-based software engineer has gone viral on social media after sharing his financial journey on Reddit, detailing how he built a net worth of over Rs 1 crore before the age of 30. The post, shared on the r/PersonalFinanceIndia subreddit, has resonated with thousands of users for its candid and grounded narrative.
The anonymous poster (OP) began his career in 2018 with a modest annual salary of Rs 2.4 lakh at the age of 23. Despite coming from a low-income background—his father earning around Rs 7,000–8,000 and his mother Rs 5,000–7,000 per month—the techie has steadily progressed toward financial independence.
Milestone Check: Started at 2.4 LPA at 23, Achieved 1cr before turning 30
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“This isn’t a boast. It’s my story,” he wrote, explaining how financial hardship shaped his early years. He credited his education at a private school and a local engineering college for laying the groundwork. “College fees were hard to afford, loans were rejected, but relatives stepped in and helped. We made it through,” he noted.
Pursuing a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he shifted focus to programming during his third year. A service-based IT firm hired him during campus placements, kickstarting his career in Bengaluru. “Out of 400+ students, 35 were selected. Somehow, I was one of them,” he recalled.
Initially earning Rs 15,000 a month, he balanced work with a frugal lifestyle and constant learning. “We even had fun. Tons of it,” he said, describing life in a PG while saving Rs 2,000 each month.
The turning point came during the pandemic. After a Big 4 offer fell through, a new opportunity brought a Rs 12 LPA offer. “My brain short-circuited,” he wrote. The tech boom in 2022 further accelerated his career—he cracked 13 job offers, eventually joining a product-based firm with a Rs 32 LPA package. With stock grants, his total compensation reached Rs 45–50 LPA.
Despite the steep income growth, the techie maintains a minimalist lifestyle. “I still use the Android phone I bought in 2019… My footwear? Rs 250 shoes—with Rs 1,000 shoe soles inside. Gotta protect those knees, not the brand image,” he said.
He now invests Rs 71,000 monthly through SIPs and has grown his portfolio from Rs 31.6 lakh in 2023 to Rs 1.0077 crore in 2025. “Watching it grow now feels oddly therapeutic,” he said.
He hopes to achieve financial independence by age 35–40, with an eye on early retirement. His closing advice: “Be frugal where it matters, splurge where it counts… and stay humble.”