Self-help author Robert Kiyosaki, known for “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” says he is in about $1.2 billion in debt. The figure is reported to come from a wide-ranging interview on the “Get Rich Education” podcast, where he frames debt as something learned and managed rather than avoided.
Context for the claims varies across outlets. The New York Post and NDTV report the $1.2 billion debt figure as tied to Kiyosaki’s real estate holdings. ZeroHedge adds further detail, reporting that Kiyosaki’s former wife, Kim Kiyosaki, tells Vanity Fair that the figure is inflated and that the couple’s debts are associated with owning apartment buildings through partnerships.
ZeroHedge also includes additional perspective about how the debt is structured and the risks involved. It reports that investments are held in separate limited liability companies, which can ring-fence assets from each other, and includes commentary from an acquisition consultant who says such leverage can become dangerous if returns or markets turn.
Overall, all accounts center on Kiyosaki’s assertion of a large debt number and place it in the context of his real estate investment approach, while differing on interpretation and risk.
