Barcelona-based journalist, historian, and writer Jaume Clotet, 49, says that renting a flat in the city centre with his first stable salary as a newspaper editor would be “unthinkable” for young people today. Clotet, who was 26 at the time, moved into a small flat in central Barcelona, a feat he believes is now almost impossible for new generations entering the job market, according to statements made to Empreses.
Clotet grew up in a family of bankers, but he was not drawn to their profession. He did, however, adopt their values of saving and prudence. His mother, for example, invested in the stock market only in “very controlled and prudent things,” he explained. His first earnings came from his father, who rewarded good school grades, offering “perhaps 50 pesetas for each excellent and 25 for a notable.” Christmas money was always deposited into a savings account.
Before starting his professional career, Clotet found an unconventional way to earn money by participating in clinical trials. He described himself as a “guinea pig for the pharmaceutical industry,” noting that “with one or two weeks I could pay for the whole summer or an Interrail trip.” His first job after university was an extended internship at TV3, followed by a stable contract at the newspaper Abc.
Housing as a Key Investment
Clotet considers his best financial investment to be housing. He bought a flat “at a very good time, with a very tight mortgage,” he said. He was not in a hurry to buy, which allowed him to benefit from favourable conditions. He also stated that he has never lost money or taken significant risks, adding, “I don’t make bets, I don’t play any of that.”
He has never applied for a loan other than for his flat, not even for a car. He maintains the philosophy he was taught: “At home, the heritage you receive should not be spent, you should keep it, and what my mother left me will go to my daughters.”
Career Path and Earnings
Clotet’s career has been varied. He has worked as deputy director of the Catalan News Agency and as a section head for a newspaper. This diverse experience means his salary has fluctuated. “Sometimes it’s higher, sometimes lower. Now I’m in a stage where I earn less than before,” he stated, but he compensates for this with a better work-life balance, away from the demanding schedules of earlier stages.
He also spoke about his time working for the Catalan government. Contrary to popular belief, he said, “People say that in government you lose money. That’s a lie. Government employees earn more than in private life. I earned more money there than in the years I was in journalism as an editor.” Clotet was charged in 2017 in connection with the independence referendum, which he said “harmed” some aspects of his professional career, affecting some contract signings. However, he knew the risks and does not regret his actions.
Currently, Clotet works as a freelancer, collaborating with media outlets and writing books. He views writing as more of a vocation than a primary source of income, noting that “in Catalonia, only one in three books sold is in Catalan.” He explained, “You can’t make a living from writing books here. Nor is that my intention. For me, it has always been an extra, and I only do them when I have time or ideas.” His diverse literary output includes an essay with Quim Torra on Francoist censorship, children’s books, an essay on military policy in an independent state, and various novels. His latest work is L'espasa del rei (2026), following his Josep Pla Prize for fiction for La Germandat de l'Àngel Caigut (2024).
