Building a net worth of ₹10 Crore did not happen overnight, and it certainly was not the result of luck or a secret shortcut.
My journey started with a simple goal: to gain financial freedom and not be dependent on a job forever. Like many people, I began with an ordinary income, limited knowledge about investing, and plenty of doubts about whether I could actually achieve such a big financial milestone.
Over time, I realized that wealth creation is less about making risky bets and more about following a simple, consistent investing strategy. By saving regularly, investing with patience, and avoiding unnecessary financial mistakes, my money slowly started working for me.
This journey taught me that reaching a ₹10 Crore net worth is possible for an ordinary person, as long as they stay disciplined, think long term, and allow time to do its magic.
Key Highlights of Sanjay Kathuria’s Journey
1) Early Start
He started his professional journey at the age of 23 with a modest monthly salary of around ₹35,000 to ₹40,000. At that time, the amount felt decent for a fresh graduate, but it was far from enough to create any significant wealth quickly.
Like many young professionals, he had regular expenses such as rent, food, travel, and other daily needs, which meant there was not much left at the end of the month. However, instead of waiting for a higher salary to start thinking about money management, he made an important decision early on: he would begin saving and investing whatever small amount he could.
Even if it was just a few thousand rupees each month, he treated saving as a non-negotiable habit. This early start turned out to be one of the most powerful factors in his financial journey, because it gave his investments more time to grow.
Over the years, as his income slowly increased with experience and career growth, he continued the same disciplined approach of setting aside money first before spending on anything else.
What began as small monthly investments during the early days of his career eventually became the foundation for a much larger portfolio, proving that starting early, even with a modest salary, can make a huge difference in long-term wealth creation.
2) Investment Strategy
Since 2006, he has followed a diversified investment approach instead of relying on just one type of asset. From the beginning, he understood that putting all his money in a single investment could be risky, so he gradually built a portfolio that included direct stocks, mutual funds, gold, debt instruments, and real estate.
Stocks gave him the opportunity to participate in the growth of strong companies over the long term, while mutual funds allowed him to invest in the market in a more structured and professionally managed way. Gold acted as a safety cushion during uncertain economic times, and debt investments provided stability and steady returns when the stock market became volatile.
Over the years, he also invested in real estate, which added another layer of long-term value and security to his overall portfolio. This balanced mix helped him manage risk while still allowing his wealth to grow steadily.
By staying invested across different asset classes and continuing to invest regularly regardless of market conditions, he was able to build a strong financial foundation that eventually played a key role in reaching his ₹10 Crore net worth goal.
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3) The Goal
From the beginning of his investing journey, he had a very clear goal in mind: to achieve financial freedom before the age of 40. He called this goal “40 and Free,” which meant reaching a level of wealth where he would no longer depend on a regular job to support his lifestyle. Instead of simply dreaming about early retirement, he turned this idea into a concrete financial target.
He carefully calculated how much money he would need to live comfortably and then built a long-term investment plan to reach that number. Every year, he tracked his progress, increased his investments whenever his income grew, and stayed focused on the bigger picture rather than short-term market movements.
There were times when markets were uncertain and financial goals seemed far away, but he continued to follow the same disciplined strategy. Slowly but steadily, his investments started compounding, and his net worth kept growing.
Because of this consistency and patience, he achieved his financial milestone even earlier than he had originally planned. Instead of reaching his goal at 40, he managed to achieve it two years ahead of schedule, proving that a clear vision, disciplined investing, and long-term thinking can turn even ambitious goals into reality.
4) Philosophy
His philosophy about making money in the stock market is surprisingly simple, yet very powerful. He believes that long-term wealth creation mainly depends on two things: investing a meaningful amount of money and giving that investment enough time to grow.
Many people enter the stock market hoping to make quick profits, but he strongly believes that real wealth is built slowly through patience and discipline. According to him, even good investments need time to compound and show their true potential.
In the early years, the growth may seem slow and sometimes even discouraging, but as time passes, the power of compounding starts working more strongly. At the same time, he emphasizes that the amount invested also plays an important role.
Small investments are a good starting point, but gradually increasing the investment amount as income grows can significantly accelerate wealth creation. By consistently investing larger amounts over the years and staying patient during market ups and downs, he allowed his portfolio to grow steadily.
This simple philosophy of combining higher investments with long-term patience became the foundation of his financial success and helped him achieve his goal of financial freedom earlier than expected.
Financial Advice for Success
4) Avoid “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL)
One important piece of advice Sanjay often shares is to be very careful with the “Buy Now, Pay Later” culture that has become common in recent years. At first glance, small monthly installments or EMIs for gadgets, electronics, or lifestyle products may seem harmless because the payment each month looks very small and manageable.
For example, buying a soundbar, smartphone, or other device on an EMI plan might only cost a few thousand rupees per month, which many people feel they can easily afford. However, the real problem begins when these small commitments start piling up.
A person may take one EMI for a phone, another for a television, and another for some other gadget, and slowly these small payments turn into a large fixed expense every month.
Over time, this habit can quietly damage financial stability because a big portion of income goes toward paying for items that lose value quickly. Sanjay believes that this kind of spending prevents people from saving and investing their money for the future.
Instead of falling into the BNPL trap for non-essential purchases, he encourages people to buy things only when they can comfortably afford them without borrowing, and to prioritize investing their money so it can grow over time rather than being spent on temporary lifestyle upgrades.
5) Passive Income
He strongly believes that the real purpose of passive income is to gradually reduce the number of expenses you have to pay from your regular salary. In his view, every new passive income stream should be powerful enough to eventually cover one specific expense in your life.
For example, the returns from a small investment might first cover something simple like your monthly internet bill. Later, another income stream from dividends, rent, or interest might be enough to handle your electricity bill or grocery expenses.
As time goes on and your investments grow, these passive income sources can begin covering bigger costs such as insurance premiums, travel expenses, or even your rent or home loan payment. The idea is that slowly, one by one, your investments start “knocking off” your regular expenses.
This creates a powerful financial shift because you are no longer depending entirely on your job to manage your daily life. Over many years, as more expenses get covered by passive income, the pressure to earn actively keeps decreasing.
Eventually, when your passive income becomes large enough to cover most or all of your living expenses, you reach a point where work becomes a choice rather than a necessity, which is the true meaning of financial freedom.
6) Action over Entertainment
He often reminds people that simply watching financial videos, reading articles, or listening to investment advice will not change their financial future unless they take real action. Many people enjoy consuming financial content because it feels productive and motivating, but they never move beyond that stage.
They keep learning new concepts, strategies, and tips, yet they delay the most important step, which is actually starting to invest. According to him, knowledge alone does not build wealth; consistent action does.
Even a small investment made today is far more valuable than months or years spent only watching financial content for entertainment. He encourages viewers to stop overthinking and begin with whatever amount they can afford, then slowly build the habit of regular investing.
Over time, this habit becomes much more powerful than simply collecting information. By taking action, learning from real experience, and staying consistent, people can gradually move closer to financial security instead of remaining stuck in the cycle of watching and learning without ever applying what they know.
The discussion aims to show that becoming a crorepati is achievable even for those starting with a modest salary (like ₹25,000 at age 24) through disciplined planning and long-term investing.
The Final Thought
In the end, the biggest message from this discussion is that becoming a crorepati is not limited to people with very high salaries or special financial advantages. Even someone who starts with a modest income, such as ₹25,000 a month at the age of 24, can gradually build significant wealth with the right mindset and habits.
The key lies in disciplined financial planning, consistent saving, and long-term investing rather than chasing quick money or short-term gains. When a person starts early, keeps increasing their investments as their income grows, and stays patient through market ups and downs, the power of compounding begins to work in their favor.
Over many years, these small but consistent efforts can turn into a large financial portfolio. The journey may not always feel exciting in the beginning, but the results can be life-changing.
It proves that with patience, discipline, and a clear long-term vision, financial freedom is possible even for ordinary individuals who begin with a simple salary and a strong commitment to their future.
FAQs
1. Is it actually possible to become a Crorepati starting with a ₹25,000 salary?
Yes. Sanjay confirms that a 24-year-old earning ₹25,000 can absolutely hit a wealth target of ₹8.5 Crores by age 50. The key is not the starting amount, but the consistency and the duration of the investment.
2. What was Sanjay’s personal financial “formula” for success?
Sanjay attributes his ₹10 Crore net worth to a combination of:
- Early Start: Beginning at age 23.
- Meticulous Planning: Setting a “40 and Free” goal (retiring by 40).
- Asset Allocation: Diversifying across direct stocks, Mutual Funds (MF), Gold, Debt, and Real Estate.
3. What are the two most important things for making money in the stock market?
According to the podcast, you only need two things:
- More Investment: Increasing the amount you invest as your income grows.
- More Time: Allowing power of compounding to work over decades, not months.
4. Why does Sanjay warn against “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL)?
He views BNPL and small EMIs as a “trap.” While a ₹2,000 EMI for a gadget seems small, multiple such installments can easily stack up to ₹15,000–₹20,000 a month. This creates a sudden financial load and prevents you from investing that money where it could grow.
5. What does “Retirement” mean in this context?
For Sanjay, retirement doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means no longer serving anyone in a job (ending the “Form 16” era). He retired at 38 after 16 years in the corporate world because his passive income and net worth were enough to sustain his lifestyle.
6. How should one view Passive Income?
Sanjay suggests a unique mental framework: Every source of passive income should be able to “knock off” one specific life expense. For example, one investment covers your grocery bill, another covers your rent, and so on.
7. What is the “Fastest Way to Go Broke”?
Sanjay notes that “Showing people that you have money” is the quickest way to lose it. He advises against lifestyle inflation and spending just to maintain a certain image.
