Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has never shied away from issuing stark financial warnings. Now, with U.S. government debt hitting a staggering new milestone, he has raised the alarm to an even higher level.

"U.S. debt is about to break $40 trillion!!" Kiyosaki wrote on X. "Are you ready for it?" The warning arrives at a critical moment. According to the U.S. Treasury's "Debt to the Penny" database, the national debt has now surged past the $40 trillion threshold. Kiyosaki believes that this mounting debt burden will ultimately punish those who hold large amounts of cash. "Remember: savers holding cash are the biggest losers!!!!" he declared.

Days later, the Treasury announced plans to at least double the size of its buyback operations for certain long-dated securities, raising the per-operation purchase cap from $2 billion to at least $4 billion. Kiyosaki responded by intensifying his warning. "Printing more fake dollars," he posted, characterizing the move as a "new round of quantitative easing." He argues this policy will drag down the U.S. dollar index, accelerate inflation, and ultimately leave savers clutching "fake dollars" as the biggest victims. "Don't be a loser," he cautioned.

It's worth noting a distinction: Kiyosaki's interpretation is not identical to the Treasury's official announcement. This buyback is a liquidity support operation aimed at improving trading conditions in parts of the Treasury market, and it is not strictly equivalent to quantitative easing (QE) as implemented by the Federal Reserve. Even so, the macro concerns Kiyosaki raises are easy to understand: inflation has long been eroding the purchasing power of the dollar. According to the inflation calculator on the Minneapolis Federal Reserve's website, $100 in 2026 would have the purchasing power of just $11.74 in 1970. In other words, $100 from back then is now worth less than $12 today.

So what assets does Kiyosaki favor? "Financially educated investors buy assets that appreciate in value, such as gold, silver, Bitcoin, and some real estate, and they get richer and richer; while those who lack financial knowledge and buy fake assets will get poorer and poorer," he wrote. Here's a closer look at the list of appreciating assets he outlined.

Where to Begin with Precious Metals

Kiyosaki has long been openly bullish on gold and silver, and his conviction only strengthens during times of crisis. He said back in 2021: "I buy gold not because I like gold, but because I don't trust the Fed." Gold and silver have long been viewed as safe-haven assets. Unlike fiat currency, central banks cannot print precious metals without limit, and their value is not tied to any single country or economy. Their scarcity, combined with a time-tested ability to preserve wealth, means that whenever inflation rises, markets turn volatile, or geopolitical conflicts erupt, investors flock to precious metals and push prices higher.

Kiyosaki has put his money where his mouth is. In a 2025 interview, he revealed: "I've hoarded boxes of gold, and I own gold mines." This time on X, he singled out silver as his top pick: "I think in August 2026, silver is the best choice." He cited the bullish forecast of economist and author Jim Rickards: "Some friends far smarter than me, like Jim Rickards, predict silver will soon rise to $200 an ounce, and gold to $10,000 an ounce." Over the past five years, both gold and silver have gained more than 150%. Beyond Rickards, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has also stated that in the current environment, gold could "easily" reach $10,000 an ounce. Precious metals IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold, silver, and other assets within a retirement account, while enjoying the tax advantages of an IRA alongside the inflation-hedging benefits of precious metals, making them suitable for those looking to hedge their retirement savings against economic risk.

Real Estate as a Core Holding

Kiyosaki also classifies certain real estate as assets that can make investors wealthy. While property prices can fluctuate, real estate has the ability to withstand inflation. When inflation rises, the costs of building materials, labor, and land increase, often pushing property values higher; rental income also climbs in tandem, providing landlords with cash flow that adjusts with inflation. He particularly values the income-generating ability of properties, which can strengthen an asset's resilience during economic downturns. He has previously warned of a potential depression similar to 1929 and advised: "When the market crashes, buy income-producing properties to secure stable cash flow."

Stock prices are prone to sharp swings driven by headlines, but quality properties tend to generate rental income consistently. Kiyosaki himself has said he owns 1,500 rental units. Today, ordinary people don't need vast wealth to invest in real estate. These investment channels can offer investors monthly rental income, property appreciation, and tax benefits, without requiring a large down payment or dealing with tenant hassles. Projects are carefully vetted, and even in downside scenarios, minimum returns can reach 12%, with an average annualized internal rate of return of 18.8% across projects. Al Brooks, vice chairman of commercial banking at JPMorgan, noted in a report: "The top pick for investors right now is multi-family apartment buildings." Qualified investors can participate in apartment and industrial property projects through such platforms.

Bitcoin as a Digital Hedge

Bitcoin's price has swung dramatically in recent years, highlighting the high volatility of cryptocurrencies. But these sharp fluctuations have not shaken Kiyosaki's confidence; instead, he views dips as buying opportunities. He said in February of this year: "I am extremely bullish on Bitcoin, and the more the price drops, the more I buy." Like many long-term Bitcoin holders, Kiyosaki values its scarcity. Similar to gold, Bitcoin cannot be issued without limit; the algorithm permanently caps the total supply at 21 million coins. That is why Kiyosaki places Bitcoin on his list of appreciating assets. However, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are highly volatile and not suitable for every investor. For those looking to dip their toes into crypto with small amounts, the entry barrier has become very low. Some platforms allow investors to buy and sell cryptocurrencies for as little as $1, with low trading costs and support for recurring purchases, price alerts, and portfolio management; the vast majority of tokens are stored in offline cold wallets, backed by theft insurance and 24/7 customer service.