Yahoo Finance · 10 Sep, 15:00 · Finance briefing

'Rich Dad' Robert Kiyosaki is $1.2 billion in debt — on purpose. Here's why.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling financial guide Rich Dad Poor Dad, reportedly carries approximately $1.2 billion in debt.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling financial guide Rich Dad Poor Dad, reportedly carries approximately $1.2 billion in debt. Contrary to conventional financial advice, Kiyosaki asserts this is a deliberate strategy rather than a crisis. He distinguishes between 'good debt,' used to acquire income-generating assets, and 'bad debt,' associated with consumption. The report highlights his controversial view that leverage is essential for wealth creation, challenging traditional notions of financial stability and risk aversion among professionals.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This story underscores the critical need for sophisticated financial literacy beyond basic budgeting. As professionals, you must understand leverage, asset allocation, and risk management to navigate complex economic environments. Skills in strategic financial planning and debt structuring are rising in value, particularly for those in senior management or entrepreneurship. You should critically evaluate financial advice, distinguishing between consumer-oriented caution and investment-driven leverage. Prioritise courses in finance and accounting to master these concepts. A smart professional analyses balance sheets rigorously, understanding how debt can fuel growth if managed correctly, rather than avoiding it entirely. This mindset shift is vital for long-term career resilience and wealth building.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Risk Management Strategies, Financial Modeling and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.