Want to look rich or be rich? CA's viral post on man's Rs 25 crore portfolio has internet rethinking wealth

CA Nitin Kaushik’s viral post challenges the illusion of flashy wealth, revealing how quiet investing helped a middle-class man build a Rs 25 crore portfolio.

In a world obsessed with luxury cars, designer wardrobes, and Insta-perfect selfies, it’s easy to mistake appearances for actual affluence. But a recent post by Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik on X (formerly Twitter) has cut through the noise with a sharp reminder: real wealth often looks nothing like what social media celebrates.

His words struck a chord with thousands, challenging the notion that driving a flashy car or wearing expensive brands is proof of financial success. In a time where lifestyle inflation is often mistaken for prosperity, Kaushik’s take offered a much-needed reality check.

“You Don’t Look Rich. And That’s Exactly the Point.”

That one line set the tone for a thread that challenges everything social media tells us about success.

The Quiet Millionaire vs The Loud Borrower

Kaushik kicks off his post with a simple observation — but one that hits home.

“I know someone with a Rs 25 Cr portfolio who drives a Rs 10L car. I also know someone with a Rs 1.7 Cr portfolio flaunting a brand-new Merc. Read that again.”

With this, he introduces a subtle but profound truth: the difference between building wealth and performing wealth. One is quietly compounding value. The other is loudly chasing validation — often at the cost of financial security.

Wealth Isn’t a Lifestyle, It’s a Mindset

Kaushik wastes no time in dismantling a common misconception: "Wealth ≠ Display. Rich isn’t about what you wear, drive, or post. It’s about what you own quietly — assets that earn while you sleep.”

This isn't about shaming people for enjoying luxury — it's about understanding what creates lasting financial freedom. The things that scream status — designer clothes, luxury cars, exotic vacations — often cost more than they return. The real winners, Kaushik points out, are investing in things that grow without needing an audience.

Two Types of People, Two Outcomes 

With clarity and simplicity, Kaushik lays down two financial archetypes: "Let’s look deeper. Person A: Low on lifestyle, high on equity + real estate + compounding. Person B: High EMI, low investible surplus, chasing validation. One’s rich. The other looks rich.”

Most of us know a “Person B” — maybe we’ve even been one. The car is new, the phone latest, the clothes branded — but behind it all is a mountain of EMIs and barely any savings.

“Person A” might look ordinary, even boring. But their investments are working overtime, silently building a future that doesn’t rely on tomorrow’s paycheck.

Cars Depreciate. Assets Appreciate.

There’s no fluff here — Kaushik gets straight to the point: "A car won’t make you wealthy. It’ll depreciate. But stocks, funds, land, rentals? They don’t just hold value — they create it.”

It's a reminder many need in today’s influencer-driven economy. A new car might turn heads for a year, but an appreciating asset grows in the background — quietly and powerfully.

What’s the Real Flex? Freedom

As Kaushik brings his post to a close, he leaves readers with a lesson that goes beyond money: "Key Takeaway: Don’t confuse visible luxury with financial freedom. The truly wealthy often blend in. Because they don’t need to prove it to anyone.”

And finally, the mic-drop moment — a line that sums up the difference between looking rich and being rich: “Want to look rich? Buy a Benz. Want to be rich? Buy time, freedom, and compounding.”

Internet Reacts: Finding Balance in the Pursuit of Wealth

Kaushik’s post didn’t just go viral — it sparked a broader conversation about money, purpose, and how we define success.

One user offered a sobering reflection stating: “True richness is when one has time at their disposal, not cars or material stuff! And that doesn’t come without silent wealth!”

“Also keep it in mind, you got one life, maintain balance, many with 25 cr or more asset will die with 10 lac car in the end so enjoy as per ur age, most of wealth is already for next generation,” stated another user to which Kaushik replied, “BALANCE.”

Another user asked, “Freedom aside, what's the use of money if it is not spent?”

Kaushik replied, “The greatest use of money is in the freedom that comes with it, not the freedom of spending, but freedom of living with no stress. Peaceful sleep, more adventures, more travel, more hobbies. I cannot keep FREEDOM ASIDE, freedom isn't a small thing out of a big component, freedom is everything.”