Young Millionaires in the Making: How Three 18-Year-Olds from Masters’ Union Built Over ₹1 Crore Each
In a recent episode of The 1% Club Show hosted by personal finance expert Sharan Hegde, three remarkably young students from Masters’ Union—a innovative business school in India—shared their extraordinary journeys to earning over ₹1 crore each while still in their late teens. Titled “Earning 1 CRORE+ At The Age of 18,” the February 2024 video has garnered over 2.1 million views, sparking widespread discussion about wealth creation, privilege, skill, and the realities of early financial success in India’s booming markets.
The guests—Aru (age 20), Swayam (age 18), and Raghav (age 18)—are first-year students at Masters’ Union, drawn together by their shared passion for finance and impressive track records in investing and trading. Their stories highlight diverse paths: self-taught stock and derivatives strategies, high-risk crypto trading, and deep fundamental research combined with macro analysis.
Aru’s journey stands out for its emotional depth and rapid growth. Motivated by the tragic loss of his mother to cancer, which drained family savings, he began learning finance during the COVID lockdown around age 14–15. Self-educating through YouTube, online courses, and paper trading on platforms like Zerodha, he taught himself Python, data science, and trading basics. With initial capital borrowed from his father (around ₹90 lakhs), Aru grew it to ₹1.7–1.8 crores in roughly one year. His approach blended custom index funds (built via weighted averages and NIFTY 50 research) with derivatives and options trading. He candidly admitted to losing about ₹50 lakhs early on, viewing those setbacks as “college fees” essential for building psychological resilience. In the last eight months alone, he achieved a 55% return (₹50–55 lakhs profit) on a ₹1 crore portfolio. Aru emphasized that true motivation comes from financial security and societal impact rather than fleeting luxuries like luxury cars or big houses.
Swayam took a bolder, higher-risk route through cryptocurrency and Web3. Starting with just ₹4 lakhs, he multiplied it to ₹1.15 crores in about three years—a staggering 30x return. Influenced by an uncle in the space, he convinced his parents to support his crypto investments. Remarkably, Swayam even turned down a Harvard scholarship (for economics) to join Masters’ Union, citing its practical, insightful curriculum—including sessions with global business leaders—as more valuable for his goals. He plans to launch a crypto exchange focused on revenue, education, and entertainment. In a hypothetical scenario of managing ₹100 crores, he allocated a significant portion (around 42–46%) to charity and impact initiatives, while splitting the rest between crypto, startups, and other ventures.
Raghav offered perhaps the most grounded perspective, drawing inspiration from his father (who runs manufacturing businesses) and legendary investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. Starting at age 14, he focused on long-term investing rather than short-term trading. One key win came from in-depth research into the electric vehicle (EV) and solar sectors, leading to a major profit from a Tata stock after just one month of study. Like the others, he reported strong recent gains (55% return on ₹1 crore in eight months) through a mix of fundamental analysis, technical tools, and macro trends—such as government budgets and policy visions. Raghav clearly distinguished investing (long-term wealth creation and passive income) from trading (short-term, full-time commitment). For a ₹100 crore portfolio, he suggested a diversified allocation: 3–4% in safe bonds or government securities, 70–80% across public and private markets (stocks, private equity, venture capital), and the remainder in derivatives for hedging. He also earmarked a substantial portion for charitable causes.
Throughout the discussion, the host and guests stressed key lessons: the importance of learning from losses, the power of self-education in the digital age, the need for discipline and risk management, and the difference between sustainable investing and high-stakes trading. They cautioned that trading isn’t compatible with a regular 9-to-5 job and requires full dedication. The episode included a clear disclaimer: it is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.
Viewer reactions have been mixed. Many praised the guests’ mindset, discipline, and early financial literacy—especially impressive for Gen Z. Others highlighted the role of privilege, noting that significant starting capital (often from affluent families) gave them a major head start during bull markets in equities (2020–2023) and crypto booms. Comments frequently called for more stories of success from middle- or lower-middle-class backgrounds without initial funding. Some appreciated Raghav’s humility and realism, while critiquing others for glossing over risks or crediting family support indirectly.
Ultimately, the episode serves as both inspiration and a reality check. These young achievers demonstrate what’s possible with dedication, access to knowledge, and favorable market conditions—but they also underscore that such outcomes remain exceptional. For most aspiring investors, the path to wealth is likely slower, steadier, and built on consistent habits rather than rapid windfalls.
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