After man sells family's gold for iPhone 18 Pro Max, billionaire Harsh Goenka highlights the different value people attach to gold

The launch of the iPhone 18 Pro in India has once again brought out the usual excitement around Apple’s latest phone, with buyers lining up outside stores to get their hands on it. But one Delhi man’s decision to buy the phone for his wife after selling gold from his family has attracted a different kind of attention.

The man was among those waiting outside the Apple Store at DLF Mall of India in Noida when India Today Tech spoke to him. He said he had come to buy an iPhone 18 Pro for his wife, who wanted the phone in the Burgundy colour.

The buyer also revealed that he had sold gold to arrange the money for the purchase. His comments later caught the attention of industrialist Harsh Goenka, who shared the video on X and used the incident to point out the very different reasons for which people sell gold.

Harsh Goenka points to the different value of gold

Sharing the video on X, Harsh Goenka highlighted how selling gold can represent very different choices for different families.

“Some people sell gold to buy a house. Some sell it for their children’s future. This Delhi man sold family gold passed down from his grandmother and great-grandmother to buy his wife an iPhone 18 Pro Max.”

The post led to a wide range of reactions, with people debating whether the decision should be seen simply as a personal choice or as a questionable use of family jewellery.

Some users focused on the financial side. One person called it a “Wrong values” decision, arguing that an appreciating asset had been exchanged for an asset that would depreciate and could need replacement in a few years.

Another user took a lighter view and said the sale at least meant gold was being circulated within the economy, joking that the buyer could say he had helped the country.

Reactions show criticism to doubts over the story

Several commenters questioned whether the incident was genuine in the first place. A ueser suggested that such stories could be created for publicity, while another user said there was “No proof” of the man’s claim and called it a possible gimmick to remain viral.

Others objected to the sale because of the family connection attached to the jewellery. One commenter described selling a grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s heirlooms for a phone as a misuse of sentimental value.

There were also comments suggesting that family gold is not always treated as an untouchable asset. One user shared a personal example, claiming that her mother-in-law had sold 600 grams of gold belonging to her and her grandmother-in-law for luxury purchases.

At the same time, some users defended the basic idea that people can decide how to spend their own money.

iPhone 18 Pro Specs

The iPhone 18 Pro comes with a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by Apple's A20 Pro chipset. It is offered with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB and features a triple 48-megapixel rear camera system.

The model is also available in Burgundy, the colour chosen by the Delhi man's wife, along with Black, Silver and Glacier options.