Kiyosaki Questions 40% Tax and $39.2 Trillion U.S. Debt

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, posted on X on June 2 questioning how a government that he said takes “40% of people’s income” can still carry about $39.2 trillion in public debt. He connected that tax estimate to concerns about federal borrowing and the value of cash and bonds.

Treasury data show public debt outstanding near $39.2 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office projects gross federal debt could reach roughly $64 trillion by 2036 if current trends continue. Kiyosaki’s 40% figure is not an official tax rate; it appears to be a rough aggregation of federal income taxes, payroll taxes, state and local levies, sales taxes and property taxes as a share of many wage earners’ income.

In a related post on May 31, Kiyosaki contrasted rising precious metal prices with bank returns. He wrote, “FYI: Gold up 65% in 1 year. Savings pay 4% a year. Central banks dumping US Treasuries for gold. Get the picture?” He urged holding gold, silver and bitcoin as hedges against what he described as weakening confidence in paper assets.

Data from official reserve reports show a change in reserve composition. At the end of 2025, gold made up about 27% of global official reserves while U.S. Treasuries accounted for roughly 22%, figures that some analysts link to central banks diversifying away from U.S. debt instruments.

Kiyosaki has also raised concerns about overall debt levels and monetary policy. He has warned that high public and private debt, together with Federal Reserve policy and declining trust in institutions, could increase market stress and heighten the risk of deeper economic contractions.

Kiyosaki has become a frequent commentator on fiscal and monetary issues beyond his work as a personal finance author. His recent posts tie questions about tax burdens and public debt to changes in investor behavior, citing rising gold prices and shifts in official reserve holdings as indicators of demand for assets outside cash and government bonds.