Rs 9 crore yearly income but he still drives 12-year-old car: CTO’s lifestyle teaches Indian middle class a tough money lesson

A senior executive earning close to Rs 9 crore a year is not living the kind of life many would assume comes with that level of income. No luxury SUV parked outside. No visible obsession with brands. No flashy social media display. Instead, he reportedly drives a 12-year-old Fiat Linea and quietly puts most of his money into investments. The details were shared by Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Abhinav Khare on X, and the post has put the spotlight on how India’s middle class thinks about money.

In his post, Khare described his friend’s professional position and earnings in simple terms. He wrote, “My friend is a CTO with a Fortune 500. He runs their GCC in India. 3 crs fixed plus stock. Total around 8-9 crs/yr.” He then added the part that caught attention: “Drives a 12 years old Fiat Linea. No luxury brands. No watches. Spends lavishly on his household staff… has 5 full time domestic aids. Invests everything else.”


There was no name mentioned, no company disclosed. Just that snapshot. Later, Khare expanded on what he believes separates spending patterns across income groups. He wrote, “Middle class people try to buy status via brands… wealthy folks do what they want. They buy what gives them happiness and rest they invest. I’ve never seen a rich guy discussing brands. They almost always discuss investments or travels or their hobbies.”

The Reactions That Followed

The responses reflected confusion, sarcasm and curiosity, all mixed together. Some people genuinely questioned the motivation behind earning at that level if the lifestyle remains simple. One comment read, “Whats the point of earning so much. If he is happy with 1cr a year then what drives him.” Another asked, “But why? Why can't he get a better & safer car?” There were also doubts about whether the person even exists, with one user writing, “Name the friend or he doesn't exist.”

Not everyone saw a problem though. One comment simply said, “What’s the issue?” while another reacted with “Wow too good.” There were sarcastic takes as well, including “Invests for next life i suppose?” and “What a waste of life...”


Taken together, the responses show how strongly people link income with visible consumption. For many salaried professionals, growth in earnings usually means visible upgrades — car, home, watches, brands. That becomes the marker of success.

The Financial Lesson

If the details shared are accurate, the unnamed CTO seems to follow a different rule. Income is separated from lifestyle expansion. Spending is selective. The bulk goes into investments.

That approach may sound extreme to some, even joyless. But from a financial point of view, it highlights something uncomfortable. Lifestyle inflation is automatic if unchecked. The more one earns, the easier it becomes to justify bigger EMIs, higher fixed expenses, and recurring costs that slowly lock income into maintenance mode.