« 90% of life is happiness… »: CEO’s view on merit, inequality sparks debate on privilege

Entrepreneur Rohan Verma, CEO and co-founder of Breathe Well-being, has sparked debate about privilege, social mobility and the role of happiness in life outcomes with an open post on LinkedIn that resonated strongly with netizens.

In his message, Verma argued that educational pedigree and family wealth often determine opportunities between generations. He drew a stark contrast between elite and disadvantaged backgrounds, writing that the children of the Ivy League, IITs or IIMs are very likely to go to good colleges themselves, while the children of billionaires almost certainly end up at the world’s top universities before moving on to executive positions. On the other hand, he pointed out that almost all low-wage and manual laborers come from poor families, regardless of their intelligence, talent or work ethic.

« This is how privilege is perpetuated across generations, » Verma wrote, adding that many individuals in manual labor roles could just as easily have occupied corporate boardrooms had they been born into different circumstances.

Reflecting on the forces that shape success, he noted that « probably 90% of life is luck, » while the other 10% represent true stories of people who rise up against all odds. According to Verma, true humility comes from recognizing which parts of one’s life are dictated by chance, rather than « drinking our own cool aid. »

The post quickly attracted both professionals and students, many of whom echoed Verma’s views while also sharing personal reflections. One user emphasized the importance of first-generation achievers, saying that the real applause goes to those who are the first in their families to get into top colleges or study abroad. « Earning a seat in a room full of privilege without being born into it isn’t just success, it’s beating the odds and changing the trajectory of the next generation, » the user wrote.

Another commenter pointed out that social mobility often depends on a single « first generation » within families – breaking into institutions like the IITs, IIMs or AIIMS and allowing upward mobility for those who follow. According to the user, which generation makes that leap depends on a combination of luck, money, time and wisdom.

A third response broadened the discussion to public policy, arguing that while individual efforts matter, the environment plays a much larger role. The user highlighted the importance of government investment in quality education, nutrition, healthcare and scholarships to make opportunities more equitable, adding that open and accessible AI technologies could further democratize access to learning and healthcare.