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They say the only certainties in life are death and taxes — but Tesla CEO Elon Musk thinks Americans are getting far more than their fair share of the latter.
“You get taxed on what you earn, you get taxed on what you buy and you get taxed on what you own. Taxes, taxes, taxes,” Musk said at a town hall in Pittsburgh, PA (1).
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In broad terms, he’s not wrong. Most Americans pay income tax on their wages and salaries; most states impose sales tax on goods and services; and homeowners shoulder property taxes on real estate. Layers of taxation touch just about every part of daily life.
Musk didn’t mince words about how harsh he believes that landscape has become: “We get the living daylight taxed out of us.”
And he’s equally blunt about how that money is spent.
“What does it get spent on? A bunch of the stuff it gets spent on you don’t even agree with. That’s why we need to reduce the size of the government and just spend less money and let the people keep a lot more of their hard-earned money,” he said.
To be sure, taxes help fund crucial public services, such as education, health care, emergency services and infrastructure. But the system Musk described can still leave many Americans wondering what realistic options they have for building wealth when every dollar earned, spent and owned seems to face another levy.
That frustration isn’t limited to tech CEOs. Scott Galloway, a renowned professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business, has openly argued that if you want to build wealth, you should lower your tax bill as much as possible.
“Tax avoidance is a key skill to building wealth,” Galloway said on Steven Bartlett’s “The Diary of a CEO” podcast.
Galloway offered a striking comparison: “If you’re a prisoner of war, you have an obligation to escape. If you’re trying to build wealth, you have an obligation to pay as little tax as possible. Do it legally.”
Prof G: “You never sell them”
When asked about the specific tax strategies employed by the wealthy, Galloway didn’t hesitate.
“First and foremost, it’s you buy stocks, you never sell them, you borrow against them,” Galloway said.
He then explained how this strategy works.
“You own $100 in Amazon stock. You need money to buy something. Instead of selling the stock and, let’s say it’s gone up 50% … You would have to realize a capital gain and pay long-term capital gains [tax] on that $50 gain. No, just borrow against it and let the stock continue to grow. And you pay a little bit of interest, hopefully from your current income. But basically it’s invest, borrow against it and die. Put it into a trust and then pass it on to your kids,” he explained.
Indeed, this approach lets wealthy investors unlock liquidity without creating a taxable event, allowing their assets to keep compounding over time. The interest paid on the borrowed amount is often modest relative to the tax liability they’d face if they sold — which is why the strategy has become a widely used method for preserving wealth.
Read more: Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year — and he begs investors not to miss its ‘explosion’
Robert Kiyosaki: “I make a lot of money and pay no tax”
Galloway’s “buy, borrow, die” approach isn’t confined to stocks. Real estate investors have been applying a similar playbook for decades — often from the moment they purchase a property, since most acquisitions start with a mortgage.
It’s a strategy “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki knows well.
“We’re always buying real estate because we use debt — and we pay no tax legally,” Kiyosaki said in a recent podcast appearance, where he disclosed that he’s carrying $1.2 billion in debt.
His point comes down to tax treatment. When investors acquire real estate with borrowed funds, the interest payments on those loans are often tax-deductible — even when the properties themselves generate positive cash flow. That allows investors to legally reduce their tax burden while putting leverage to work.
Kiyosaki takes the strategy to an extreme scale.
“I own hotels today and 15,000 rental properties — and make a lot of money and pay no tax. I love it,” he revealed.
Real estate can be a powerful wealth-builder, offering rental income, potential long-term appreciation and tax advantages — from depreciation to 1031 exchanges — that help investors keep more of what they earn.
But leveraging large amounts of debt comes with real risks. Borrowing magnifies outcomes in both directions: a downturn in the market, rising interest rates or unexpected expenses can quickly turn comfortable leverage into a strain, especially for investors without deep experience or diversified cash flow.
The good news? You don’t need to be as wealthy as Kiyosaki — or take on massive debt — to start investing in real estate.
Earn rental income without becoming a landlord
Home equity has long been one of America’s most reliable wealth builders — but until recently, it’s been hard to invest in without buying property outright or competing with institutional players.
Now, with home values surging and homeowners shying away from new debt, investors have a new way in.
Homeshares gives accredited investors access to this overlooked segment: the billions in locked-in equity sitting in owner-occupied homes.
Instead of purchasing properties, investors participate through a portfolio of Home Equity Agreements (HEAs) — allowing homeowners to unlock cash with no monthly payments, while investors share in future appreciation.
The result is exposure to a large, under-tapped market across top U.S. cities, without the headaches of being a landlord or the risk of being overleveraged.
HEAs come with built-in protection: they usually cover 25 to 35% of a home’s value in a lien secured position, which helps shield your investment if the market dips. And unlike traditional real estate, HEAs are also typically resilient to interest rate shifts, offering attractive, risk-adjusted returns even during economic uncertainty.
With diversified portfolios of high-quality homes and target returns of 14% to 17%, Homeshares offers a practical way to gain exposure to a growing corner of the real estate market.
Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
Consult a professional
At the end of the day, everyone’s financial situation is different — from income levels and investment goals to debt obligations and risk tolerance — which means the best move for someone else might not be the best one for you.
If you’re unsure where to start, it might be the right time to get in touch with a financial advisor through Advisor.com.
Advisor.com is an online platform that matches you with vetted financial advisors suited to your unique needs. They can help tailor a strategy to your unique financial situation, whether you’re looking to grow wealth, manage taxes or plan for long-term financial security.
Once you’re matched with an advisor, you can book a free consultation with no obligation to hire.
Another option is Range, a platform built for high-earning households that want deeper, data-driven guidance. Range pairs you with a dedicated team of financial advisors and tax experts who look beyond the basics — evaluating your past filings, running future tax projections and modeling how your financial decisions could affect your overall tax burden.
Their approach includes tools like tax-loss harvesting, tax analysis and year-ahead planning, all integrated into a holistic plan that also covers investment strategy, budgeting and long-term wealth goals. You get customized advice, regular check-ins and access to advanced planning tools, so you’re not navigating complex assets on your own.
And the best part? You can book a complimentary demo to see if Range can meet your comprehensive financial needs.
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