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For years, Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has urged investors to avoid holding too much cash and instead accumulate assets including Bitcoin, gold, silver and real estate.
The 79-year-old personal finance author has also made some of crypto’s most aggressive price calls, repeatedly arguing that Bitcoin could eventually reach seven figures as government debt and currency debasement erode purchasing power.
Now, Kiyosaki’s own use of debt is drawing renewed attention after <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/09/01/business/rich-dad-poor-dad-self-help-author-robert-kiyosaki-is-1-2-billion-in-debt-report/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reports </a>highlighted his claim that he is tied to roughly $1.2 billion in borrowing.
<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/elon-musks-2025-tesla-pay-could-buy-nearly-10-of-all-bitcoin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Related: Elon Musk's 2025 Tesla pay could buy nearly 10% of all Bitcoin</a>
<h2 id="kiyosaki-says-debt-can-build-wealth">Kiyosaki says debt can build wealth</h2>
Kiyosaki disclosed the figure during a June 1 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/608-robert-kiyosaki-joins-us-now-%241-2b-in-debt-says/id927263663?i=1000770543766" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">appearance </a>on the Get Rich Education podcast.
“So, I’m a billion two in debt,” Kiyosaki said, before warning listeners against simply copying his strategy.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
 “You should not do what I do, right?”
</blockquote>
Kiyosaki said he has studied debt since 1974 and argued that investors need financial education before using leverage.
The headline figure, however, does not represent $1.2 billion of personal unsecured debt.
Kim Kiyosaki, his former wife and longtime business partner, <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/story/the-wild-origins-of-rich-dad-poor-dad?source=Paid_Soc_FBIG_CM_0_ASC_GTM_0_VYF_US_Prospecting_C&amp;utm_source=fark&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=fark&amp;ICID=ref_fark" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">told </a>Vanity Fair in an Aug. 26 profile that the debt is spread across real estate investments held with partners, including roughly 1,500 apartment units.
“We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners,” she said. “So technically, yes, we have all this debt,” adding that the borrowing is attached to real assets.&nbsp;
Vanity Fair estimated Kiyosaki’s personal share could be roughly $30 million to $60 million, based on financial figures he provided.
<h3 id="most-popular-on-thestreet-roundtable">Most Popular on TheStreet Roundtable:</h3>
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The strategy reflects a central theme of Kiyosaki’s investing philosophy - use borrowing to acquire assets that can generate income or appreciate rather than relying on cash savings.&nbsp;
He has applied similar thinking to <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/tag/crypto" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">crypto</a>, consistently grouping Bitcoin with gold and silver as assets he believes can preserve wealth during inflation and monetary instability.
On March 17, for example, Kiyosaki <a href="https://x.com/theRealKiyosaki/status/2034023953090678796?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">urged </a>followers to accumulate Bitcoin, gold, silver and Ether ahead of what he expects to be another major financial downturn.
His willingness to embrace leverage also comes with significant risk. Debt can amplify returns when assets appreciate, but higher borrowing costs, falling property values or weaker cash flow can magnify losses.
<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/latest-news/21-wall-street-banks-make-a-dramatic-u-s-dollar-move" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Related: 21 Wall Street banks make a dramatic U.S. dollar move</a>

Rich Dad Poor Dad author shocks fans with $1.2 billion debt

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