Robert Kiyosaki, 1.2 milyar $ borcu olduğunu ve endişelenmediğini söylüyor. Bu varlığı satın almak için borç kullanıyor ve ‘yasal olarak vergi ödemiyor’

Robert Kiyosaki says he’s $1.2B in debt — and isn’t worried. He uses debt to buy this 1 asset and ‘pay no tax legally’

Jing Pan

Sat, August 29, 2026 at 2:35 PM GMT+3 10 min read

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For most people, carrying $1.2 billion in debt would be a terrifying prospect. But for Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki, it's no cause for concern. And an August 2026 Vanity Fair profile offers some important context behind that eye-popping figure.

Kiyosaki doesn't personally owe $1.2 billion, according to his former wife and longtime business partner Kim Kiyosaki. Rather, the debt is held by a group of real estate investors, including Kiyosaki and his partners, tied to roughly 1,500 apartment units. His personal share is reportedly much smaller (1).

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In a prior appearance on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast, the hosts asked Kiyosaki a blunt question: "How much debt do you have?" Kiyosaki didn't hesitate. "$1.2 billion," he replied (2).

The figure may be eye-popping, but it fits neatly with Kiyosaki's long-running philosophy: Use borrowed money to acquire assets that can generate income and appreciate over time.

When asked on the podcast whether that amount made him nervous — or worried about defaulting — Kiyosaki laughed.

"Are you sh-tting me?" he said. "No. I'll tell you why. If you owe the bank $20 million and you can't pay it back, you got a problem. But you owe the bank $1 billion and you can't pay it back, it's their problem."

That quip, a modern echo of J. Paul Getty's famous line, reflects Kiyosaki's philosophy on money: Use debt strategically, not fearfully. When asked why the bank gave him such an astronomical loan, he needed only two words — "real estate."

Indeed, investing in property often requires leverage, whether you're buying your first rental unit or scaling a portfolio. For Kiyosaki, that mindset goes back decades — and runs counter to conventional wisdom.

"Debt is money. My poor dad always says, 'Get out of debt,' Dave Ramsey says, 'Get out of debt.' My rich dad says, 'Only lazy people use their own money — your job is to borrow money,'" Kiyosaki explained in a recent interview with Hannah Hammond (3).

And he's clearly followed that advice. "We're always buying real estate because we use debt — and we pay no tax legally," he said.

'I make a lot of money'

Kiyosaki's point comes down to how real estate investors can legally reduce their tax burden by using debt strategically. When investors purchase properties with borrowed funds, the interest payments on those loans are often tax-deductible — even when the properties themselves generate positive cash flow.

The strategy Kiyosaki describes is pretty simple: Borrow against an asset rather than sell it. If a property gains value, an investor may be able to tap that equity for cash without triggering the capital-gains tax that could come with selling the property.

Of course, that doesn't mean the money is free. The debt still has to be repaid and the strategy only works if the underlying investment can generate enough income to keep up with the loan.

"I own hotels today and 15,000 rental properties — and make a lot of money and pay no tax. I love it," he revealed.

Real estate can indeed be a powerful tool for preserving — and building — wealth. It's no wonder that real estate accounts for nearly 25% of the typical family office portfolio.

It can generate steady rental income, serve as a hedge against inflation and provide valuable tax perks that help investors keep more of what they earn while growing their portfolios.

Still, while Kiyosaki has thrived using substantial debt to expand his empire, that strategy may not be for everyone. Leveraging a large amount of borrowed money amplifies both gains and losses — and without reliable cash flow or experience managing properties, even a small downturn in the market or a rise in interest rates can quickly turn manageable debt into a financial burden.

And the time, effort and costs involved in managing and maintaining multiple properties prevent many from investing. So unless you're a hedge fund titan or an oil baron, you've been shut out of one of the most profitable corners of the market.

The good news? You don't need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki — or take on massive debt — to start investing in real estate. For investors who like the idea of real estate income but don't want to deal with the headaches of owning and managing a property themselves, there are other ways to get in.

Mogul bridges the divide here. This real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the mogul team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

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% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Every investment is secured by real assets, not dependent on the platform's viability. Each property is held in a standalone Propco LLC, so investors own the property — not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of safety, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each stake.

Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.

Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going

Kiyosaki says his mission is to help people make money

Kiyosaki says his approach to money isn't just about getting rich himself. In the recent Vanity Fair profile, he describes financial education as part of his mission to help other people build wealth.

That mission took shape after Kiyosaki met futurist R. Buckminster Fuller. When Kiyosaki said his purpose was to get rich, Fuller challenged him to think bigger. Kiyosaki says the encounter pushed him toward teaching others about money.

He and Kim Kiyosaki went on to run Money & You, a financial-education company that used games to teach money concepts. Kiyosaki later created the Cashflow board game before publishing Rich Dad, Poor Dad in 1997.

The book sold more than 44 million copies and made Kiyosaki one of the biggest names in personal finance.

And according to Vanity Fair, he still sees himself as a teacher — even as some of his investing advice has drawn plenty of criticism.

But you don't have to follow Kiyosaki's unconventional approach to benefit from a little financial guidance of your own.

A financial advisor can help crunch the numbers and build a plan that works.

But hiring an advisor can be a lifelong commitment, which might make or break your retirement. That's why finding reliable advisors is crucial.

That's where Advisor.com can come in. The platform connects you with an expert near you for free.

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.

Just enter a few details about your finances and goals and Advisor.com's AI-powered matching tool will connect you with a qualified expert best suited for your needs based on your unique financial goals and preferences.

Finding the right advisor isn't always easy — there's no one-size-fits-all solution. That's why Advisor.com lets you set up a free initial consultation, with no obligation to hire, to see if they're the right fit for you.

Once you've got the right financial advisor in your corner, the next step is getting a clear picture of where your money's actually going. That starts with the basics — budgeting and tracking your spending.

Kiyosaki's favorite assets

Real estate may be the cornerstone of Kiyosaki's wealth-building philosophy, but it isn't the only asset he talks about.

Kiyosaki has also been a longtime fan of precious metals and Bitcoin. He has repeatedly argued that investors should look beyond traditional cash and stocks and consider assets he believes can hold their value when inflation erodes the purchasing power of the dollar.

Gold is particularly prominent in Kiyosaki's investment philosophy. For investors interested in physical precious metals, Priority Gold is an industry leader in precious metals, offering physical delivery of gold and silver. Plus, they have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating from Trust Link.

If you'd like to convert an existing IRA into a gold IRA, Priority Gold offers 100% free rollover, as well as free shipping and free storage for up to five years. Qualifying purchases can also receive up to $10,000 in free silver.

To learn more about how Priority Gold can help you reduce inflation's impact on your nest egg, download their free 2026 gold investor bundle.

Kiyosaki has also been outspoken about Bitcoin, frequently touting the cryptocurrency as a potential hedge against inflation and what he sees as problems with the traditional financial system.

Platforms like Robinhood are designed to make investing simpler and more approachable.

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can also buy and sell individual stocks, fractional shares and options (for qualified traders) — backed by 24/7 support. Stocks, ETFs and their options trades are commission-free.

With access to popular ETFs like the Vanguard S&P 500, you can build diversified exposure without needing to pick individual stocks.

The platform also offers both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, so you can choose the tax strategy that fits your retirement plan.

With its recurring investment feature, you can set up automatic investments of your preferred fractional shares, stocks and ETFs on your own schedule.

Over time, this helps make investing a habit and steadily grows your portfolio.

Of course, Kiyosaki's strategy isn't necessarily one investors should copy wholesale. Real estate, precious metals and cryptocurrency all carry risks and taking on large amounts of debt can magnify losses just as quickly as it can magnify gains.

For most people, the lesson may be less about following Kiyosaki into any particular investment and more about understanding how different assets, income and debt can fit into a broader financial plan.

- With files from Laura Grande.

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Vanity Fair (); @TheIcedCoffeeHour (); Hannah Hammond ().

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.