What India’s Rich Don’t Want the Middle Class to Know About Taxes & Wealth
Riya Kumari | Jan 09, 2025, 23:01 IST
Ever wonder why the rich seem to have all the tricks up their sleeves? It’s like they have a manual for navigating life that the rest of us missed out on. You’re working hard, grinding away, and they’re—well, let’s just say they’re “working” in ways that have nothing to do with hours clocked in at the office. The real kicker? It’s not about being smarter or luckier; it’s about how they’ve mastered the game without you even realizing there’s a game to begin with. And no, it’s not about inheritance alone.
Here’s the cold, hard truth: it’s not about how much money you make. It’s about how much you can hide. The wealthy aren’t necessarily smarter or more talented; they’ve just figured out how to keep the game rigged in their favor. So, while you’re busy working on your side hustle or stressing over your next promotion, they’re sitting pretty, laughing all the way to their next offshore tax haven. But hey, we all have a role to play, right? If nothing else, the rich need us to keep buying their overpriced coffee so that they can keep pretending they’re “just like us.”
1. The Secret Behind Their “Overnight” Success
Oh, they always tell you about their “rags to riches” stories, don’t they? The humble beginnings, the long hours in a tiny room with just a dream and a laptop. It all sounds inspiring, like something you'd watch on Netflix while eating ice cream alone on a Friday night. But, let’s be real here—while you were slaving away in your 9-to-5, some of them had the privilege of being born with a golden spoon. Or, in more relatable terms, a platinum-plated one. The whole “self-made” label? It’s about as accurate as a dating profile where someone’s claiming they’re “six feet tall” and "love to travel". Let’s just say, inheritance is the best kind of investment—if you know where to look.
2. The Art of Avoiding Taxes
Here’s a little trick you might not know: the rich don’t actually pay taxes. Shocking, right? The thing is, they have "financial advisors" (yes, with quotes) who know how to turn tax season into something more akin to a spa day. Wealthy individuals have trusts, shell companies, offshore accounts, and—dare we say it—strategic timing. They’ll leave you bogged down with receipts and paperwork, while they’re sipping an overpriced cocktail, barely even glancing at their accountant’s emails. So, when they say they “pay their fair share,” they might be referring to their fair share of cocktails, not the government’s share of their billions.
3. Real Estate is a Rich Person's Monopoly Game
Ever wondered why the rich are so obsessed with real estate? No, it’s not just because it’s “a good investment.” That’s the middle-class version of the story. The truth? Real estate is the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card. They own so much property that selling a few of their mansion-sized apartments or taking out a mortgage on a private island becomes just another Tuesday. While you’re living paycheck to paycheck, they’re casually buying, selling, and renting out properties with the same ease they’d pick out a new set of towels. It’s the game of Monopoly, but with fewer plastic houses and more jets.
4. Networking is About the Who Knows Your Money
You’ve heard that phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” right? Well, the really wealthy would add one more thing to that: “It’s who knows your money.” That’s why, at every soiree, brunch, or social gathering, they’re not really there to talk about the weather or the latest season of The Crown. No, they’re there to network—but not in the traditional sense. They’re connecting with other millionaires (and sometimes, billionaires), weaving the social web that keeps them wealthy. It’s less about mutual admiration and more about mutual investments. The rest of us? We’re just trying to figure out how to get an invite to one of these “networking” events.
5. The ‘Philanthropy’ Game is Just Another Tax Write-off
Yes—charity. The rich love to donate to causes near and dear to their hearts. But here’s the kicker: it’s not purely altruistic. Shocking again. You see, philanthropy is a little-known tax loophole that lets the wealthy write off a whole lot of cash. Want to donate a few million? Great. As long as it’s to your foundation (that you control), you get to keep a healthy chunk of it. It’s all very noble, isn’t it? Meanwhile, the rest of us are lucky to get a couple of hundred rupees on our income tax returns. If only our donations came with a complimentary yacht.
1. The Secret Behind Their “Overnight” Success
Luxury
Oh, they always tell you about their “rags to riches” stories, don’t they? The humble beginnings, the long hours in a tiny room with just a dream and a laptop. It all sounds inspiring, like something you'd watch on Netflix while eating ice cream alone on a Friday night. But, let’s be real here—while you were slaving away in your 9-to-5, some of them had the privilege of being born with a golden spoon. Or, in more relatable terms, a platinum-plated one. The whole “self-made” label? It’s about as accurate as a dating profile where someone’s claiming they’re “six feet tall” and "love to travel". Let’s just say, inheritance is the best kind of investment—if you know where to look.
2. The Art of Avoiding Taxes
Money
Here’s a little trick you might not know: the rich don’t actually pay taxes. Shocking, right? The thing is, they have "financial advisors" (yes, with quotes) who know how to turn tax season into something more akin to a spa day. Wealthy individuals have trusts, shell companies, offshore accounts, and—dare we say it—strategic timing. They’ll leave you bogged down with receipts and paperwork, while they’re sipping an overpriced cocktail, barely even glancing at their accountant’s emails. So, when they say they “pay their fair share,” they might be referring to their fair share of cocktails, not the government’s share of their billions.
3. Real Estate is a Rich Person's Monopoly Game
Real estate
Ever wondered why the rich are so obsessed with real estate? No, it’s not just because it’s “a good investment.” That’s the middle-class version of the story. The truth? Real estate is the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card. They own so much property that selling a few of their mansion-sized apartments or taking out a mortgage on a private island becomes just another Tuesday. While you’re living paycheck to paycheck, they’re casually buying, selling, and renting out properties with the same ease they’d pick out a new set of towels. It’s the game of Monopoly, but with fewer plastic houses and more jets.
4. Networking is About the Who Knows Your Money
Hand shake
You’ve heard that phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” right? Well, the really wealthy would add one more thing to that: “It’s who knows your money.” That’s why, at every soiree, brunch, or social gathering, they’re not really there to talk about the weather or the latest season of The Crown. No, they’re there to network—but not in the traditional sense. They’re connecting with other millionaires (and sometimes, billionaires), weaving the social web that keeps them wealthy. It’s less about mutual admiration and more about mutual investments. The rest of us? We’re just trying to figure out how to get an invite to one of these “networking” events.
5. The ‘Philanthropy’ Game is Just Another Tax Write-off
Donate
Yes—charity. The rich love to donate to causes near and dear to their hearts. But here’s the kicker: it’s not purely altruistic. Shocking again. You see, philanthropy is a little-known tax loophole that lets the wealthy write off a whole lot of cash. Want to donate a few million? Great. As long as it’s to your foundation (that you control), you get to keep a healthy chunk of it. It’s all very noble, isn’t it? Meanwhile, the rest of us are lucky to get a couple of hundred rupees on our income tax returns. If only our donations came with a complimentary yacht.