At just 28 years old, Cassidy O'Hagan is experiencing a lifestyle that seems ripped straight from a luxury travel influencer's social media feed. Her life involves winters in Aspen, summers in the Hamptons, and exotic trips to destinations like Dubai, the Maldives, India, and Puerto Rico, all facilitated by private jet travel. The most surprising part? She is not a celebrity, an influencer, or an heiress. Cassidy O'Hagan works as a nanny.
From Medical Sales to a Million-Dollar Nanny Career
O'Hagan is employed by a billionaire family, and the benefits of her job make standard corporate packages seem underwhelming. As Business Insider reported, her compensation includes a 401K retirement plan, comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, meals prepared by a private chef, and even a dedicated "nanny wardrobe." She openly admits, "My orthopedic medical sales job could never compete."
Her journey into this unique profession began in 2019. At 22, while studying for the MCAT and seeking extra income, she landed her first role caring for the children of an affluent family. "I realised very quickly after moving in that I had stepped into this completely different world," she recalls. Despite this, she initially pursued corporate ambitions, moving to New York in 2021 for a medical sales job that paid $65,000 a year (approximately ₹60 lakh).
However, burnout and a lack of inspiration led her to quit. "I realised that I had walked away from work that actually aligned with who I was," she says, describing herself as a nurturing, personable, and service-oriented individual. That decision to return to being a nanny profoundly changed her life and her finances.
A Sky-High Salary and a Booming Wealth Class
Bound by a non-disclosure agreement, O'Hagan confirmed that her income has more than doubled in four years. She now earns between $150,000 and $250,000 annually. Even at the lower end, this translates to more than ₹1.3 crore per year.
Her story is set against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding global wealthy class. In the year 2000, Forbes listed 322 billionaires. Today, that number has skyrocketed to over 3,000. A UBS report further highlights that the number of individuals with assets between $1 million and $5 million has quadrupled in the last quarter-century, now reaching 52 million people worldwide. This surge in wealth has directly increased the demand for domestic staff—from nannies and chefs to personal assistants and yacht crews—who help maintain these luxurious lifestyles.
Gen Z's Corporate Disillusionment and Lofty Financial Goals
Cassidy's career path reflects a broader trend among Gen Z professionals, a generation expressing deep scepticism towards the traditional corporate ladder. A 2025 Deloitte survey discovered that a mere 6% of Gen Z workers actually aspire to leadership roles. Many are instead practising "conscious unbossing"—intentionally avoiding promotions to safeguard their personal time and mental well-being.
Paradoxically, their financial aspirations are immense. A recent Empower survey revealed that Gen Z considers an annual income of $600,000 to be the true marker of financial success. This figure is nearly six times the amount that Baby Boomers deemed sufficient.
Yet, achieving these goals is becoming more challenging. Corporate hiring in the United States is slowing down, and the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping job markets at an unprecedented pace, creating an uncertain future for many young professionals.
