By News18,Sahas

Copyright news18

“Rich on paper, broke in reality.” Many professionals today appear to be living the dream. high-paying jobs, exotic vacations, luxury cars and an apartment, everything looks flawless. Their social media feeds are filled with achievements, which make it look like they have everything under control. But many high earners could also struggle financially.
Palak Jain, a finance mentor, recently shared a LinkedIn post that highlighted this reality through an example of one of her clients, named Priya.
“Rs 50 lakh salary. Rs 60 lakh debt. Meet the “successful” millennial who’s actually broke…This is Priya’s story. And it might be yours too,” Palak wrote on LinkedIn.
‘The Instagram Life’
Palak mentioned that Priya earns a Rs 50 lakh salary as a software engineer. She drives a BMW on EMI, owns an apartment in Gurugram with a Rs 40 lakh loan and her social media posts showcase trips to Dubai. On LinkedIn, she has over 10,000 followers.

‘The Bank Account Reality’
But the reality behind the picture-perfect posts is very different. Palak mentioned that Priya carries Rs 60 lakh in total debt. Every month, she pays Rs 85,000 in EMIs alone. Her other expenses add up to Rs 50,000. That leaves her with very little room for savings and she has no emergency fund.
Even with a high salary, she lives “paycheck to paycheck.” Any unexpected medical emergency or family situation could push her “bankruptcy.”
“As a SEBI registered research analyst, I meet these “rich-on-paper, broke-in-reality” people daily,” Palak wrote.
‘The Brutal Math’
Palak also explained the numbers behind Priya’s lifestyle. With a Rs 50 lakh salary, her take-home after taxes is around Rs 2.8 lakh. Subtract Rs 85,000 in EMIs and Rs 50,000 for regular living expenses. The total outflow comes to Rs 1.35 lakh.
On paper, it looks like she could save Rs 1.45 lakh every month. But according to Palak, costs like car maintenance, insurance, repairs, home upkeep, society fees, lifestyle expenses and unexpected medical bills reduces it and the actual savings often comes down to zero.
‘The Middle-Class Debt Trap’
Palak explains that this situation is common, writing, “You look successful to others. You feel stressed inside. Every month is a struggle. But stopping EMIs feels like “failure.” Real wealth isn’t what you earn. It’s what you keep.”
‘Delivery Guy Richer Than Priya’
Palak also posed a question: “Are you building wealth or just maintaining an expensive lifestyle?”
“Harsh reality: Your net worth = Assets – Liabilities. If this number is negative, you’re broke regardless of your salary. Time to get real about your money,” she wrote.
Priya’s story shows that earning a high salary doesn’t automatically mean building wealth. Palak highlighted this with a blunt comparison: A delivery worker earning Rs 30,000 a month and saving Rs 15,000 is “richer than” Priya.