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An Indian IT professional has amassed Rs 9 lakh crore in 20 years through disciplined investing in stocks and mutual funds, garnering praise for his story of financial freedom./
By 2026, his annual salary had risen to around Rs 65 lakh, while his investment portfolio had swelled to nearly Rs 9 crore.
Whether they are salaried employees or business owners, most Indians worry about how to build a financial cushion for life after retirement. While many continue to favor conservative investment options, a recent post by an IT professional on Reddit struck a chord online, offering a compelling counter-narrative built on discipline and long-term investing.
The now-viral post explains how the engineer amassed a collection of nearly Rs 9 crore over two decades, without inherited wealth, outside income, stock options or windfall from real estate. Describing himself as a “common guy working in the IT industry”, the 47-year-old said he started his career in 2005 with an annual salary of Rs 3 lakh and no investment portfolio to speak of.
According to this publication, the professional invested in stocks from the beginning of his career, avoided fixed deposits, lived frugally and consistently channeled a significant portion of his income into stocks and mutual funds. He was the only earning member in a family of five throughout this period. “There were no on-site/dollar earnings despite traveling to multiple countries for the company/person,” he wrote, adding that his approach has remained unchanged even as his income has risen over the years.
By 2026, his annual salary had risen to around Rs 65 lakh, while his investment portfolio had swelled to nearly Rs 9 crore. Of this amount, around Rs 8 lakh crore is invested directly in stocks and around Rs 1 lakh crore in mutual funds. He claims his portfolio has generated an average annual return, or XIRR, of about 21%, an exceptional number by market standards.
“No ESOP. Salary is before tax. And every year there were some extra bonuses/prizes as usual,” he wrote, saying he was the only earning member in a family of five.
The IT professional attributed his success largely to the power of installation. “This is a pure compound of 21% XIRR. The magic happens after 10-15 years. I still own many stocks for a decade,” he wrote. He also pointed out that he invested his annual bonus in the market and now earns nearly Rs 6 lakh annually from his stock dividends.
The post received widespread praise on social media, with users describing it as a rare, honest account amid stories dominated by offshore profits and startup windfalls. “21 percent XIRR is crazy, can you guide us on this,” one user commented.
Another wrote: “True story of an Indian IT professional. Thanks for keeping it real.” Another said the post stood out because it showed that financial freedom is possible in India through disciplined spending and long-term investment.
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12 January 2026 at 9:19 PM IST
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