Elon Musk no longer the richest man in the world? Indian man wakes up to 36-digit fortune in his account

As the global economy accelerates toward a more digitalised future, banking systems are increasingly relying on automation, algorithms, and real-time transaction tracking.

While these advances have brought convenience and speed to financial services, they have also opened doors to an array of unprecedented glitches and cyber vulnerabilities.

Among the most baffling occurrences in recent memory is a recent case from Uttar Pradesh, India, where a man discovered a surreal 36-digit figure in his bank account — a number so large it surpassed the combined wealth of the world’s richest individuals.

The incident has left both the man and the authorities puzzled, raising questions about the reliability of digital banking systems and the potential implications of such errors.

The unusual scenario has become the subject of intense scrutiny, attracting attention from cybersecurity experts, local police, and even the public, who are grappling with the surreal nature of this financial anomaly.

UP Man accidentally becomes ‘richer than Elon Musk’

On April 25, 2025, Ajit, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, checked his bank account as part of a routine activity. However, what he found was anything but ordinary. According to a report by NDTV, Ajit was astonished to see his account reflecting an inconceivable amount — Rs

1,00,13,56,00,00,01,39,54,21,00,23,56,00,00,01,39,542 — a 36-digit figure that cannot be named by most standard numerical systems or calculated by a typical digital calculator.

The startling revelation came after two small transactions of Rs 1,800 and Rs 1,400 were debited from his account.

These normal transactions were the only recorded financial activities that day, making the sudden spike in his account balance even more confusing and unexpected. Initially, Ajit's wife admitted to feeling a momentary sense of joy, fantasizing about a life transformed by unimaginable wealth. However, that sense of euphoria quickly gave way to concern and skepticism.

UP Man’s 36-digit bank balance sparks cybercrime fears

The unusual balance led to a range of emotions for Ajit and his family — from brief elation to overwhelming anxiety.

(Bank response and police involvement))

While the bank acknowledged the unusual balance, it was unable to immediately reverse the error or provide a concrete explanation.

The situation escalated to the point that Ajit approached the local police for assistance. Authorities, after preliminary review, advised Ajit to file an official complaint with the cybercrime division to rule out any malicious intent or systemic vulnerabilities.

Ajit’s bank account has since been frozen for investigation, a standard procedure followed to prevent misuse or unauthorised access while inquiries are ongoing.

Investigators are now looking into the root cause of the error — whether it originated from a software malfunction, a data entry oversight, or an attempted cyberattack.

Ref: Elon Musk no longer the richest man in the world? Indian man wakes up to 36-digit fortune in his account (timesofindia)