An Indian professional who returned from the US after building a portfolio worth over Rs 100 crore has offered an account of what life looks like after financial success. In a post on Reddit titled “Returned
to India, doing ‘nothing,’ it can be a bliss and a curse,” the NRI traced his journey from modest beginnings to extraordinary wealth.
He said he came from “a normal middle class family,” and began his career at a services company before moving into core technology roles and eventually relocating to the US. Over the years, investing and favourable market conditions transformed his finances. “The last few years have been phenomenal for our stock portfolio and we are at $12m++/ INR 100Cr++ now, a number I never thought I would see!”
Back in India, his life has settled into a routine in a gated community. Days are filled with sports and gym sessions lasting “three hours a day minimum,” followed by time for books, television serials, tracking the markets and, most importantly, family. “A lot of time with my kids and spouse,” he said, adding that there are stretches when he does not step outside the enclave at all, remaining insulated from “the reality and chaos outside.”
Before settling into this rhythm, he allowed himself long periods of leisure. He revisited classic television series such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. He even watched entire film collections ranging from The Godfather to Christopher Nolan’s work, and immersed himself in video games. Travel also featured prominently. He and his family spent weeks moving across Asia and Europe, while he took time to bike, hike and disconnect from the wider world altogether.
Yet the post is not a simple celebration of financial freedom. The man added that boredom creeps in. “Nowadays, I do get bored sometimes,” he said, though he is clear about what he does not miss. “I cannot imagine grinding at a tech company.”
He remains uncertain about what comes next. While he explored working with non-profit organisations, the experience left him disillusioned. He said he was “quite shocked to see the level of dishonesty and corruption spread at every level.”
Looking back, he contrasts his younger self, which he described as “idealistic, optimistic, full of hope and thought he could make a difference,” with the person he feels he has become. Today, he describes himself as “more inward facing,” pessimistic about Indian society and focused almost entirely on his family and well-being.
Despite this retreat from larger ambitions, he doesn’t have any regrets. “The happiness I get spending time with my family and myself, I am okay to trade off for any promotions and titles,” he wrote.
Returned to India, Doing "nothing", its can be a bliss and a curse!
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His post garnered many comments. One user said they were “on a similar path” and still weighing whether India or countries offering golden visa routes, such as Dubai, offered a better quality of life.
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There were also questions on his choices, with one user asking why he decided not to invest in real estate, as he could “literally own any house.”
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Not all reactions were sympathetic. One person described him as “lazy, boring, selfish, mediocre,” except that he had the “discipline and luck to make Rs 100 crore and get out of the rat race.”
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Others said he could “pay for a small cause,” like adopting a few children and funding their education.
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One user, validating the NRI’s choice to step away from conventional ambition, said that he did not “owe anyone apart from your family anything.”
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There were also suggestions to “pick up something you think you care about” without worrying about “changing the world.”
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Taken together, the responses do not challenge his conclusion as much as they illuminate it.
