Man with ₹500 crore net worth wears first-copy luxury watch, shares why: ‘Bought it for ₹10k’
Delhi Entrepreneur Questions Luxury After Meeting ₹500 Crore Tycoon in First-Copy Watch
A LinkedIn post has sparked conversation about status symbols and authenticity
Bharatmorningnews.com – A recent encounter between a Delhi-based startup founder and a wealthy businessman has generated considerable discussion online. The story centers on whether genuine luxury requires genuine price tags, or if perception matters more than reality.
Rohan Dhawan, who runs a business in the capital city, shared his experience on LinkedIn after meeting someone whose financial standing was remarkable. During their conversation, Dhawan noticed something catching his eye on the man’s wrist.
“Last week, I met a man whose net worth is close to ₹500 Crore. Something on his wrist was shining bright. It was a Rolex Daytona, the two-tone one that retails north of ₹25 lakh. I complimented it mid-conversation, told him it’s something I’ve been wanting for years myself.”
What followed surprised the founder. Instead of accepting the compliment with pride, the businessman revealed a secret.
“Rohan, I’m only telling you this. It’s a first copy. Bought it for ₹10k from an Instagram page.”
The wealthy man then laid out his reasoning. He believed his position in life meant people would never question the authenticity of his timepiece. The watch served its purpose—it displayed the time, attracted compliments, and fulfilled its social function without requiring a massive investment.
Dhawan found himself in an uncomfortable mental space. He couldn’t entirely agree with the logic, yet he couldn’t dismiss it completely either. He drew a comparison to everyday observations about how people perceive luxury items differently based on who wears them.
“I sat there confused, awkward, and lost in thought because I do not agree with him but I couldn’t fully disagree either. A guy on the street wearing genuine Nikes still gets a second glance, assuming that they’re probably a first copy. But a guy who’s earning ₹2-3 lakh a month, wearing fake Jordans, gets a compliment and nobody checks twice. That’s not luxury working the way it’s supposed to.”
Netizens Weigh In on the Philosophy of Fake Luxury
The post quickly attracted responses from people with varying perspectives on authenticity and social signaling.
One commenter emphasized that the key question is understanding your motivation for purchasing. For the businessman, the goal wasn’t owning an authentic Rolex—it was being perceived as someone who owned one. Given his reputation and wealth, that perception was guaranteed.
Another respondent pointed to the example of Bill Gates, who frequently wears a Casio Duro despite his global stature. The argument was that someone with half a billion rupees doesn’t need a Rolex to command attention. A simpler timepiece would serve equally well.
A sneaker enthusiast shared a similar experience, noting that counterfeit shoes gifted to them went unnoticed for years. They received compliments and the shoes functioned properly, though they cautioned against recommending counterfeit products universally.
The final commenter offered a philosophical take: the watch itself didn’t earn the compliments—the man’s credibility did. However, they questioned whether luxury that exists primarily for external validation has truly lost its meaning.
While Dhawan stated he would never wear a counterfeit item himself, he acknowledged that the businessman’s reasoning was compelling enough to warrant serious consideration.
Trisha Sengupta serves as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times, bringing over six years of digital newsroom experience. She specializes in connecting viral moments with traditional journalism through high-engagement storytelling. Her coverage spans technology, finance, and human emotion, with particular focus on personal finance challenges in cities like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. She also documents NRI experiences and follows global figures including Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, and Nikhil Kamath. Outside of work, Trisha enjoys reading, exploring historical sites, and traveling solo.
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