Kiyosaki: With $10,000 I’d buy education, not assets

On July 18 on The Rich Dad Radio Show, Robert Kiyosaki, the 79-year-old author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, described a hypothetical restart in which he lost all assets and was given $10,000. He said he would not invest any of that money immediately and would instead use it to rebuild his knowledge and earning ability.

Kiyosaki told listeners that the outcome of money depends on who controls it. He said rushing into stocks, cryptocurrency or real estate without the right judgment is a common error. “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,” he said.

The first expenditures would be on financial education: books, seminars and time with a mentor who has direct experience building businesses, buying property, raising capital or recovering from major losses. Kiyosaki differentiated those mentors from advisers whose primary role is recommending financial products.

After education and mentoring, he would focus on income-producing skills such as sales, marketing and communication. He described learning to analyze cash flow, spot undervalued properties, locate potential investors and structure partnerships that can attract outside capital as part of the recovery plan.

Kiyosaki outlined a funding approach that relies on deals capable of drawing other people’s money rather than using the $10,000 as a down payment. He said his aim would be to rebuild judgment and earning power so future investments would be made from a position of knowledge. “A great deal finds its own money,” he added.

He warned that the main threats to the $10,000 would be emotional: fear and greed. Kiyosaki argued that fear can prevent necessary action while greed can push money into opportunities a person does not understand, and that those emotions can destroy savings faster than market events.

Kiyosaki has previously recommended gold, silver and bitcoin as hedges against what he describes as weak fiat currencies, calling silver and bitcoin alternatives to government-issued money. In the scenario he outlined on the radio show, he prioritized education and skill-building before buying any assets.

The plan Kiyosaki presented centers on rebuilding judgment and practical skills, then using those capabilities to identify and structure fundable deals and attract outside capital rather than immediately deploying the $10,000 into financial markets or property.