“Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC) is one of India’s most popular game shows, hosted for years by Amitabh Bachchan. While very few contestants have won crores of rupees, those who do often remain in the public’s memory for years.
One such winner was Sushil Kumar, who won ₹5 crore in the 5th season of KBC in 2011. Hailing from Bihar, he was the first contestant to win such a large sum, gaining nationwide fame. However, despite this life-changing amount, his life took an unexpected turn.
In a 2020 Facebook post, Sushil Kumar revealed that he became addicted to bad habits and fell victim to fraud. He shared that people invited him to events and pressured him into making donations. During this time, his relationship with his wife started deteriorating, and she often accused him of failing to distinguish between genuine and deceitful people.
Recalling a pivotal moment, Sushil Kumar mentioned that during a conversation with a journalist, he got irritated and claimed he had lost all his money and was now surviving by selling cow’s milk. This statement was reported as fact, leading to widespread rumors that he had gone bankrupt.
As a result, people distanced themselves from him, and invitations to events stopped. This period forced him to reflect on his future.
However, contrary to popular belief, he was not entirely bankrupt. Indian media reports stated that after tax deductions, he actually received ₹3.50 crore.
In 2023, Sushil Kumar was selected as a government psychology teacher. Besides teaching, he is also actively involved in tree-planting initiatives.
