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With housing affordability being a pressing issue in America, buying a nice home usually means shelling out a small fortune. But “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki says he managed to snag a multi-million-dollar mansion without ever cutting a seven-figure check out of his pocket.
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“So I just paid for my house. They wanted $4.5 million for it,” Kiyosaki said in a recent appearance on “The Iced Coffee Hour” podcast. (1) “So I just took out some gold from my safe, paid for it. The gold only cost me $450,000.”
In other words, Kiyosaki had been sitting on a stash of gold — and because its value had soared over the years, it allowed him to buy something worth 10 times his original cost.
“The house was $4.5 million but because I saved gold coins, so I only paid $450,000 for the gold. But over the years it went to $4.5 million, so I paid for that,” he added.
Of course, the gold was worth the full $4.5 million at the time of the house purchase — so it’s not as if he scored a discount on the property. The difference wasn’t in the house price, but in the power of holding an asset that had appreciated dramatically over time.
And Kiyosaki makes no secret of his preference for the precious metal.
“I have boxes of gold. I own gold mines.”
The safe haven shines again
Gold has helped people preserve wealth for thousands of years — and in 2025, it’s glittering again. Over the past 12 months alone, the price of gold has surged by more than 50%.
For Kiyosaki, his faith in gold comes down to one thing: a deep distrust of fiat money. “I’m not buying gold because I like gold, I’m buying gold because I don’t trust the Fed,” he said in an interview back in 2021. (2)
And the numbers back him up. If he had kept $450,000 of cash in his safe instead of gold, it wouldn’t have grown to $4.5 million. In fact, its buying power would have been substantially eroded by years of inflation. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, $100 in 2025 has the same purchasing power as just $12.05 did in 1970. (3)
Gold, on the other hand, is a natural hedge against inflation. Unlike fiat currencies, it can’t be printed at will by central banks. It’s also widely considered the ultimate safe haven asset, not tied to any one country, currency or economy. In times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to gold — driving prices higher.
Kiyosaki isn’t alone in his stance. Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, told CNBC earlier this year that “people don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” adding that “when bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Where Kiyosaki makes ‘most’ of his money
Given how much gold prices have soared, Kiyosaki’s stash has clearly paid off. But it’s not the only asset fueling his fortune.
When the host asked him, “At this point, where do you make most of your income from?” Kiyosaki did not hesitate. (1)
“Just property and oil,” he replied.
And he doesn’t hide his enthusiasm for real estate.
“I own 1,500 rental properties,” he said, adding that “I like real estate.”
Just like gold, real estate can be a powerful hedge against inflation — with the added benefit of generating rental income.
When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.
Today, you don’t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki to get started in real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to [invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100], all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Now, if you already own rental real estate, you know it’s not always “passive” income. Managing tenants, chasing down late payments, juggling multiple accounts — and then sorting it all out at tax time — can turn into a full-time job.
The good news? You don’t have to do it all on your own.
That’s where Baselane comes in. The platform is designed specifically for independent landlords and real estate investors, helping them manage their properties, tenants and finances — all in one place.
With Baselane, rent gets collected automatically — no more chasing tenants. Late fees and reminders go out without you lifting a finger. Expenses are tracked and categorized instantly, and financial reports update in real time — ready for tax season
Whether you own a single rental unit or a growing portfolio, Baselane can help turn the chaos of property management into something a lot more hands-off. You can sign up today and receive a $150 cash bonus as a Moneywise reader.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
@TheIcedCoffeeHour (1); Yahoo! Finance (2); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (3)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.