Delhi astrologer's Rs. 2.5 crore income claim goes viral; internet debates astrology business

The discussion began after X user Neetu Khandelwal shared details she said had been given to her by a relative who had recently enrolled with the astrologer and was encouraging her to do the same.

According to Khandelwal, the astrologer charges Rs 25,000 per year for three consultations, with each session lasting around 30 minutes.

"There is an astrologer in Delhi who charges ₹25,000 per annum for three meetings of 30 minutes each in a year and gives suggestions to overcome difficulties in life, if any," she wrote on X.

She added that one of her relatives had recently enrolled with the astrologer and was persuading her to sign up as well.

"She shared that almost 1,000 people are associated with this astrologer and the numbers are increasing," Khandelwal said.

Based on the figures she cited, Khandelwal estimated that the astrologer could be generating annual revenue of around Rs 2.5 crore.

"This astrologer makes ₹2.5 crore per annum for just hearing people and suggesting some random things to become successful," she wrote.

The post triggered a wide range of reactions on X, with users debating whether astrology can be considered a lucrative profession and whether the reported earnings reflected the effectiveness of astrological predictions or simply a successful business model.

One user said they did not believe in astrology, arguing that there was always a probability of predictions appearing to come true.

"I really don't believe in astrology. There is always a 50% probability existing for a success or a failure. 50% of those visiting any astrologer are going to get success anyhow. These many people are more than enough to make the astrologer famous," the user wrote.

Another user suggested that the reported earnings were unusual for the profession.

"He seems to be one of the lucky folks who is minting money right, left and centre, as I don't think a lot of astrologers are able to earn such a massive amount of money," the person said.

A third user focused less on astrology and more on the economics of the alleged business model.

"The business model is more convincing to me than the astrology. ₹25,000 from 1,000 clients is ₹2.5 crore in annual revenue for a service built largely around attention, trust and personalised advice. Whether the predictions work is a separate question entirely," the user wrote.

However, not everyone was sceptical about astrology.

"Yes, I believe in astrology. Some predictions have turned true for me," another user said.

The discussion has since turned into a broader debate over the popularity of astrology in India, where people often seek consultations on issues ranging from career and relationships to finances and personal difficulties.

The Rs 2.5 crore figure is an estimate based on the claims made in the X post and has not been independently verified.