Robert Kiyosaki says losing everything was beneficial when mistakes became lessons instead of lasting bitterness. His account of repeated setbacks highlights how sudden riches can disappear through ego or misplaced trust.
Key Takeaways
- Kiyosaki identifies ego and dishonest people as risks to sudden riches.
- He describes experiencing all five of his initial money problems.
- He calls losing everything a good thing if it becomes a life lesson.
Why Kiyosaki Viewed Losing Everything as Beneficial
Losing everything offered an opportunity to develop better financial judgment, Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, explained in an Oct. 16 statement on X. He credited his rich dad with teaching him to turn setbacks into life lessons and become more financially intelligent instead of bitter.
Reflecting on his lessons from losing everything, Kiyosaki wrote:
“I’ve experience this too, several times. The good news is, losing everything was a good thing for me.”
He framed the benefit as conditional on recognizing an error and growing from it, making the response to failure central to his account.
His criticism of schools followed that distinction, accusing the education system of punishing mistakes instead of teaching people to examine them. He argued that fear of errors or failure to learn from past decisions can contribute to poverty. Kiyosaki added: “Humans were designed to make mistakes, learn, and grow smarter.”
Everyone Has Money Problems, Including the Wealthy
Everyone has money problems, Kiyosaki argued in his five-part list of financial challenges, also published Oct. 16. These were having none, earning too little, spending more than one earns, lacking funds for the future, and having too much. He said:
“I have had all five problems.”
The famous author maintained that solving the first four taught him lessons that left him facing a different problem: having too much money.
His follow-up introduced a sixth problem: going from sudden riches to having nothing, a transition he associated with inflated egos or dishonest people gaining access to assets. Professional athletes, movie stars, lottery winners, and inheritance recipients were among his examples. He named managers, accountants, attorneys, and relatives as potential sources of dishonesty.
Practicing decisions with play money was the purpose Kiyosaki gave for creating the Cashflow board game with Kim Kiyosaki. Players buy assets, evaluate investment opportunities, and track the effects of their choices. His closing advice was: “Make mistakes, learn, grow, and enjoy a richer life.”
From Financial Education to Protecting Wealth
Kiyosaki’s approach to rebuilding begins with improving financial judgment before putting money at risk. Discussing a hypothetical $10,000 rebuilding plan in July, he prioritized financial knowledge, mentorship, and income-producing skills before buying investments.
For older savers, a major loss can also leave less time to recover before retirement. In his retirement savings warning, posted Sept. 27 on X, he predicted that severe declines in stocks and bonds could leave some baby boomers without enough time to rebuild their savings.
Preparing for economic trouble is a precaution comparable to carrying car insurance, Kiyosaki argued in an Oct. 3 statement. He outlined his financial preparedness approach while reiterating his preference for gold, silver, and bitcoin over government-issued currency.
He favors those holdings as protection against currency depreciation and financial instability, citing excessive debt and loose monetary policy. In a March 16 statement, Kiyosaki predicted bitcoin would reach $750,000 one year after the global financial crash he anticipated.
Buying bitcoin to preserve savings still exposes investors to price declines, even when their concern is a weakening currency. Its limited supply supports the argument for bitcoin as an inflation hedge, but demand and market conditions also determine its value. Holders can lose purchasing power if its price falls while living costs rise.