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Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki warned last year that Americans were headed into dark times, fueled by debt and the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2025 credit card debt is at all time highs. U.S. debt is at all time highs. Unemployment is rising. 401(k)s are losing,\u201d he wrote in an April 2025 X post (1). \u201cU.S.A. may be heading for a GREATER DEPRESSION.\u201d<\/p>\n
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But how have his claims fared since then?<\/p>\n
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans now owe an unprecedented $1.28 trillion in credit card debt \u2014 5.5% more than last year (2). Total American debt has climbed to $38.9 trillion (3). And U.S. unemployment hit 4.5% in November 2025, marking the highest figure since 2021 \u2014 although it\u2019s since rebounded to 4.3% in January (4).<\/p>\n
So, what kind of action does Kiyosaki recommend to weather the storm ahead?<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who take action today, when the crash crashes, those who invest in just one Bitcoin, or some gold, or silver \u2026 You may come through this crisis a very rich person,\u201d Kiyosaki wrote.<\/p>\n
That advice should come as no surprise. Kiyosaki has long been a vocal proponent of these alternative assets.<\/p>\n
However, not all of Kiyosaki\u2019s claims have come to pass. For example, average 401(k) account balances were actually up 13% at the end of 2025 compared to Q4 2024, representing the third straight year of double-digit annual balance increases, according to Fidelity (5).<\/p>\n
In spite of this, Kiyosaki recently repeated his claims in a long X post in March (6).<\/p>\n
\u201cI am afraid that crash is now arriving,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2026 the crash will be led by Black Rocks private credit Ponzi scheme. I hope I am wrong\u2026.yet if and when Black Rock crashes\u2026It\u2019s going to be fast and destructive.\u201d<\/p>\n
He even offered some unusual financial advice:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor just $10 anyone can invest in silver. If you do not have a spare $10 stop eating for one day. My point is please do not be a victim of WOKE financial education which is financial education for the victims of soceity [sic]. There is a lot of truth in the words\u2026\u2019Go Woke Go Broke,\u2019\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cSkip eating for one day and invest $10 in real junk silver, dimes and quaters [sic]. You\u2019ll be healthier, wealthier and probably better looking.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, what about Kiyosaki\u2019s allegations that something worse than the Great Depression is coming for Americans?<\/p>\n
As of May 2026, despite many Americans struggling, the nation has not fallen into a recession, let alone a \u201cgreater\u201d depression. With that said, some of Kiyosaki\u2019s soothsaying has come to pass, especially when it comes to one alternative to fiat currency.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a closer look at the assets he\u2019s championing and whether his predictions for 2026 might come true.<\/p>\n
Precious metals <\/p>\n
Kiyosaki\u2019s warnings may often be exaggerated, but his long-running price calls on gold have occasionally rung true.<\/p>\n
Back in October 2023, he wrote on X: \u201cGold will soon break through $2,100 and then take off. You will wish you had bought gold below $2,000. Next stop, gold $3,700 (7).\u201d<\/p>\n
Gold prices surged in 2024 and continued to climb through 2025, hitting an all-time record price of $5419.80 on January 28, 2026, before backing off to the current $4709 per ounce (8).<\/p>\n
Kiyosaki says gold still has a long way to go. In a November 2025 X post, he wrote, \u201cMy target price for gold is $27K (9).\u201d<\/p>\n
While the precious metal had a bumpy ride in late January, gold has largely retained its long-term gains. The forecasts for gold performance are still strong for 2026, with Citi projecting a rebound to $5,000 per ounce in the next three months, according to a report from The Street (10).<\/p>\n
Read More: Robert Kiyosaki warned of a ‘Greater Depression’ \u2014 with millions of Americans going poor. Was he right?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Leverage gold in your IRA <\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in investing in gold to preserve your wealth, you might want to consider opening a gold IRA with Priority Gold<\/a> to leverage the account\u2019s tax benefits.<\/p>\n Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold<\/a>.<\/p>\n This can make it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties. Just keep in mind that gold is typically best used as just one part of a well-diversified portfolio.<\/p>\n To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $10,000 in free silver<\/a> on qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n Real estate \u2014 revisited <\/p>\n Beyond gold, Kiyosaki also has strong views on real estate as an investment.<\/p>\n \u201cYour house is not an asset,\u201d Kiyosaki once said during an interview with finance YouTuber Sharan Hegde (11). \u201cWhat is the definition of the word? If it puts money in my pocket, it’s an asset. If it\u2019s taking money from my pocket, it’s a liability.\u201d<\/p>\n Kiyosaki argues that owning the home you live in often takes money out of your pocket in the form of mortgage payments, utilities, taxes and maintenance costs. Rental properties, however, can be a different story.<\/p>\n Access real estate through crowdfunding <\/p>\n Kiyosaki\u2019s Rich Dad website shared a blog post about rental properties, which noted that they can generate significant, regular cash flow when purchased and managed wisely (12).<\/p>\n \u201cWhile property prices have risen, savvy investors still look for properties where monthly rent equals at least 1% of the purchase price,\u201d The Rich Dad Real Estate team wrote in the post. \u201cA $200,000 property should rent for at least $2,000 per month to generate meaningful rental property passive income.\u201d<\/p>\n But you don\u2019t need to have $200,000 on hand to get started in real estate investing. Platforms like Arrived<\/a> offer an easy way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.<\/p>\n With Arrived, you can invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100<\/a>, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.<\/p>\n The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you\u2019d like to purchase, and then sit back as you earn any quarterly dividends<\/a> from your investment.<\/p>\n Invest in real estate \u2014 without the mortgage <\/p>\n Another way to leverage rental property income is with mogul<\/a>, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties<\/a>, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits \u2014 without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.<\/p>\n Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide<\/a> for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.<\/p>\n Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually.<\/p>\n Offerings often sell out in under three hours<\/a>, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.<\/p>\n Every investment is secured by real assets<\/a>, meaning it\u2019s not dependent on the platform\u2019s viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors \u2014 not the platform \u2014 own the property. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.<\/p>\n Getting started is easy. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties<\/a>. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.<\/p>\n Bitcoin <\/p>\n Like gold, Kiyosaki has also made many bitcoin price predictions. Aside from the occasional heart-stopping drop, bitcoin has been one of the top-performing assets of the past decade.<\/p>\n In November 2024, he wrote on X: \u201cBitcoin will soon break $100,000 (13).\u201d In December of that year, the cryptocurrency surpassed that milestone (14).<\/p>\n Although bitcoin has since dipped below $100,000, Kiyosaki\u2019s long-term forecast remains ambitious: $1 million per coin by 2035 (15).<\/p>\n And in an X post on Jan. 22, he wrote, \u201cQ: Do I care when the price of gold, silver or Bitcoin go up or down? (16),\u201d to which he rhetorically answered, \u201cNo. I do not care,\u201d adding, \u201cBecause I know the national debt of the U.S. keeps going up and the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar keeps going down.\u201d<\/p>\n Evidently, Kiyosaki isn\u2019t perturbed by the latest Bitcoin crash because he still believes its investment thesis holds true.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not alone in his optimism: X co-founder Jack Dorsey said in a 2024 interview with Pirate Wires that Bitcoin could hit \u201cat least\u201d $1 million by 2030 \u2014 and possibly go even higher (17).<\/p>\n Tap into crypto with established platforms <\/p>\n For those with the stomach to buy into the latest bitcoin dip, it\u2019s worth making sure you\u2019re investing with a platform you can trust.<\/p>\n With platforms like Kraken<\/a>, buying and trading cryptocurrencies is straightforward, whether you\u2019re on desktop or using the mobile app.<\/p>\n You can invest in 600+ cryptocurrencies<\/a>, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP and more, or set up recurring buys to invest automatically.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the option to add price conditions, so your trades only execute when the market hits your target.<\/p>\n Kraken also offers guides on popular coins, helping you understand what you\u2019re buying and how to navigate the process from start to finish.<\/p>\n And if you have questions, 24\/7 support is available via live chat, phone or email.<\/p>\n For those who want greater control, Kraken PRO<\/a> offers a more advanced trading experience.<\/p>\n Designed for active traders, it features a highly customizable interface<\/a> with real-time market data, advanced tools and detailed order types like stop-loss and take-profit to help manage trades more precisely.<\/p>\n You can also trade across spot, margin and derivatives markets, monitor performance in one unified portfolio, and tailor your dashboard with multiple data widgets to suit your strategy.<\/p>\n Opening an account<\/a> is quick, with a simple sign-up, verification and short investor profile to get started.<\/p>\n Not investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss. View legal disclosures at kraken.com\/legal\/disclosures<\/a>. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kraken or its management.*<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Talk to an expert <\/p>\n To be clear, it would be highly risky to go all-in on any of Kiyosaki\u2019s favorite assets.<\/p>\n Firstly, having all of your eggs in one basket is never a great way to invest your money. Secondly, some of Kiyosaki\u2019s favorite assets \u2014 such as bitcoin \u2014 are notoriously volatile.<\/p>\n So before you make any big moves into any of Kiyosaki\u2019s asset recommendations, it\u2019s worth consulting with a professional.<\/p>\n Advisor.com<\/a> can connect you with an expert near you for free.<\/p>\n Advisor.com does the heavy lifting for you, vetting advisors based on track record, client ratios and regulatory background. Plus, their network comprises fiduciaries, who are legally required to act in your best interests.<\/p>\n Just enter a few details about your finances and goals, and Advisor.com\u2019s AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert<\/a> best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.<\/p>\n Advisor.com even lets you set up a free initial consultation<\/a> with no obligation to hire to see if they\u2019re the right fit for you.<\/p>\n You May Also Like <\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Article sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n @theRealKiyosaki, X (1<\/a>), (6<\/a>), (7<\/a>), (9<\/a>), (13<\/a>), (15<\/a>), (16<\/a>); New York Federal Reserve (2<\/a>); U.S. Treasury (3<\/a>); Bureau of Labor Statistics (4<\/a>); Fidelity (5<\/a>); Trading Economics (8<\/a>); The Street (10<\/a>); Finance with Sharan (11<\/a>); Rich Dad (12<\/a>); Yahoo! Finance (14<\/a>); Pirate Wires (17<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n \n