IIM-A graduate with Rs 55 lakh salary settles divorce for Rs 10 lakh: What happened behind the scenes?

A social media post has recounted the experience of an IIM-A graduate who reportedly gave up a substantial portion of his salary in an attempt to save his marriage, only to eventually reach a divorce settlement after about two-and-a-half years. According to the account, the man moved from a Rs 55 lakh fixed-income job to a Rs 32 lakh role closer to home so he could spend more time with his wife.

The post, whose author described the account as a true story, said the man ultimately negotiated a Rs 10 lakh one-time settlement after his wife sought Rs 45 lakh through her lawyer. The account also claimed that he had preserved recordings of conversations during the marriage and had legal protections in place when his former wife’s lawyer allegedly threatened legal action.

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He left a Rs 55 lakh job to spend more time with his wife

According to the post, the man graduated from IIM-A and joined an e-commerce startup with a fixed annual income of Rs 55 lakh. The job involved long working hours and considerable stress.

After two years, he married a homemaker. The couple went to Iceland for their honeymoon, but within a few months, his wife reportedly became increasingly unhappy with the amount of time he could devote to the marriage.

The post said tensions also developed between his wife and mother, prompting him to move out of his parents’ home and relocate to the city where his workplace was based.

The move did not resolve the central problem. His wife continued to complain that he had little time for her and, after a year of marriage, reportedly told him that she would seek a divorce unless he invested as much effort in their relationship as he did in his career.

He took a major pay cut to try to save the marriage

The man reportedly recognised that maintaining the same workload while giving his wife more time would be difficult without changing jobs.

According to the account, he explored opportunities that could offer similar or higher compensation with shorter working hours, but was unable to find one. He eventually moved to a multinational company located closer to their home.

The change came at a steep financial cost. His salary fell from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 32 lakh.

The new position reportedly allowed him to work from 10 am to 6 pm, giving him considerably more time at home. Before making the move, he also discussed the financial consequences with his wife, including moving to a less expensive house and reducing their lifestyle expenses. The post said she agreed to those changes.

However, the account claimed that within six or seven months, disagreements resurfaced. His wife allegedly began questioning why they were no longer going on as many dates, watching movies or taking vacations. She also reportedly complained about the neighbourhood and compared it unfavourably with their previous home.

Divorce discussions eventually followed

As tensions continued, the man reportedly began documenting some of their conversations. The post said he came to believe that the marriage was unlikely to continue and that repeated attempts to address one problem were leading to concerns about another.

After around two-and-a-half years of an on-and-off marriage, his wife reportedly said she wanted a divorce.

The account said the man was prepared for the possibility and asked what she wanted in order to proceed. According to the post, her lawyer sought a lump-sum settlement of Rs 45 lakh.

The man rejected the demand. The post further claimed that the lawyer threatened him with false cases, while he responded that he had recordings that he believed documented how he had been treated during the marriage.

The account also said there had been no dowry involved in the marriage and that the man had borne the marriage expenses. By that stage, according to the post, his lawyer had also obtained anticipatory bail.

Divorce settled at Rs 10 lakh

Rather than accept the Rs 45 lakh demand, the man reportedly offered Rs 10 lakh as a full settlement.

The post claimed that he told his wife that, if the offer was rejected, he was prepared to contest the divorce and pursue the matter through legal proceedings. The account also said he indicated that such litigation could take several years.

The couple eventually agreed to a mutual divorce for Rs 10 lakh, according to the post, with the divorce decree reportedly issued within six months.

The account highlighted the wording of the settlement documents as particularly important. It said the man’s lawyer drafted the agreement to specify that the one-time payment represented the full and final settlement, with the former wife having no further claims arising from the settlement.

He later returned to an Rs 80 lakh salary

The financial setback did not last indefinitely. According to the post, two months after the divorce, the man secured a new position at a startup with an annual salary of Rs 80 lakh.

Despite the professional recovery, the experience reportedly changed his personal outlook. The account said he had decided against marrying again after what he described as a deeply difficult experience.

The person who shared the story said the man had originally hoped to build a family and have children, and that the breakdown of those plans had become a source of personal stress and disappointment.

The author said he encouraged the man to view marriage as only one part of life rather than an obligation, and suggested that he could consider other ways of building a family in the future, including adoption.

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Social media users debate the divorce strategy

The post also prompted discussion about how the man handled the breakdown of his marriage.

One user described the former wife as having narcissistic traits and praised the man for what they saw as a fortunate escape. However, another commenter cautioned against casually assigning psychological labels to spouses, noting that people frequently describe their partners as “narcissists” and that it would be more useful to understand what evidence would actually support such a diagnosis.

Another user asked the author to share the divorce affidavit, particularly because of the wording reportedly used in the settlement. A third commenter praised the man for maintaining detailed records and suggested that his documentation had strengthened his position during the divorce process.

The author said the man had agreed to share the affidavit with followers who were interested, leaving open the possibility of a further discussion around how the settlement was drafted.

The claims in the social media post, including the details of the marriage, legal proceedings, settlement and recordings, have not been independently verified.

Disclaimer: This report is based on a social media post, and the claims made in the post have not been independently verified by The Economic Times Digital. The report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified legal professional for advice on divorce, settlements or any other legal matter.