Why Would Robert Kiyosaki Refuse to Invest the $10,000?
During a July 18 episode of The Rich Dad Radio Show, Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki outlined a hypothetical financial reset at age 79. He said that if he lost everything, including his businesses, real estate, and gold, and was left with $10,000 to start over, he would not invest any of it.
The famous author said:
“I’m 79 years old. If I lost everything today, every business, every property, every ounce of gold, and someone handed me $10,000, I would not invest it. Not $1.”
His refusal is central to the scenario, as he believes money produces different results depending on the knowledge of the person controlling it.
The position contrasts with Kiyosaki’s broader investment message. He has repeatedly recommended gold, silver and bitcoin as protection against what he calls “fake money,” warning that rising U.S. debt and flawed financial policies will erode fiat currencies. He describes gold and silver as “God’s money” and bitcoin as “people’s money,” while emphasizing silver’s monetary and industrial uses.
“$10,000 in the wrong hands disappears. $10,000 in the right hands becomes freedom. Same money, different hands,” Kiyosaki said. People commonly receive money and rush toward a stock, cryptocurrency, or financial product they do not understand, he cautioned, adding: “That’s the mistake. Not the stock, not the crypto, the rush.”
Where Would the Money Go Instead?
Prior to buying any asset, Kiyosaki said his first expense would be education. “Before I invested a single dollar of that $10,000, I would invest in my financial education, a book, a seminar, time with someone who has already done what I want to do, a mentor,” he shared. The purpose would be to rebuild his judgment before risking capital.
Kiyosaki distinguished experienced mentors from financial advisers who primarily recommend products. He said he would seek guidance from someone who had built a business, purchased property, raised capital, or recovered from major losses. He argued that choosing the wrong source of financial guidance can be more costly than a market downturn, stating:
“That difference is costing you more money than any market crash ever will.”
“The mistake is the rush. The fix is the mind,” the renowned author said. From there, he would develop sales, marketing, and communication skills, which he describes as tools for generating income and presenting opportunities. He would also learn to analyze cash flow, identify undervalued properties, find investors, and structure partnerships capable of attracting outside capital.
What Could Destroy the Rebuilding Plan?
Finding deals that other people may want to finance forms the next stage of the plan. Instead of applying the $10,000 toward a down payment, he would use it to understand what separates a strong opportunity from a weak one. His claim that “a great deal finds its own money” reflects his investment philosophy, not a guaranteed result.
Kiyosaki said the rebuilding strategy could fail if fear and greed influenced financial decisions. He argued that the greatest threats to the $10,000 would not come from the market, inflation, or a financial crash, but from emotions:
“If you can’t protect that $10,000 from the two things that destroy it first, not the market, not inflation, not a crash, something much closer to home, two things you carry with you into every financial decision you will ever make.”
Fear and greed are “the two things that destroy $10,000 faster than any crash,” he said. Fear can leave a person unwilling to act, while greed can push money into poorly understood opportunities. His answer is therefore not a particular asset: He would use the $10,000 to rebuild knowledge, earning power, and judgment before buying investments.
