“You aren’t rich if you don’t have....”: Techie's viral post leaves internet divided

A viral post shared by a fintech professional has sparked a social media uproar after declaring that individuals earning less than Rs 60 lakh annually should be deemed "poor." Shared by @fintech_shark on X (formerly Twitter), the statement rapidly gained traction, fueling intense debates about income inequality in India.
“Anything less than 60LPA is poor. You pay 70% income as taxes in the form of GST, income tax & VAT. Less than 2LPM net- is middle class,” the user wrote. The post further added, “People making 60L-1cr are middle class. Those making above 1cr+ are upper middle class. You aren’t rich if you don’t have generational wealth”.

The post, originally shared on February 2 has gone viral with more than 6 lakh views so far. The user further posted that “if you earn 60LPA, it would take minimum 5-6 years to own a flat in a metro city, assuming for a spouse and two kids.”

For those unaware, tech millionaire Bryan Johnson recently cut short his podcast with Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath over air pollution concerns. In another post, the user drew parallels between Johnson’s concern over air pollution and the challenges of buying an apartment with an income below Rs 60 lakh.
The user wrote “Bryan Johnson ran away in the middle of podcast bcz AQI was ~110 (10 times the normal limit as per him) but average p-jit would tell you there is no air pollution. Same goes with the income I have mentioned as well, try buying at apartment if you make less than 60L.”

The post drew mixed reactions from X users with some sharply criticizing the statement, while others agreeing with it.
Commenting on the post, one user wrote “That doesn't make any sense..poor, rich etc are contextual. In India, given overall poverty & price levels, any rural family taking a net income of >40K/month(5L/year) is not poor. In urban areas, u may stretch this to 8L maybe. A family with 60LPA (~3L in hand/month) is easily upper middle class.”
“If 60L–1Cr is ‘middle class,’ then what’s 12L? Below poverty line? This isn’t economics, it’s just troll farming,” said another user. A third user commented “You pay 70% income as taxes…’ If you’re in the 33% tax bracket and spend the rest only on products with 28% GST, your tax will still not touch 70%. Maybe the issue is poor primary school math.”
“Many places, the definition of "rich" varies widely based on local cost of living, lifestyle, and cultural expectations. It's all relative!,” said another user.