'Rich Dad Poor Dad' author says two forces are quietly hurting investors

'Rich Dad Poor Dad' author says two forces are quietly hurting investors TheStreet · Oliver Touron AFP via Getty Neo Sat, May 16, 2026 at 12:15 AM GMT+7 4 min read "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki is once again warning about the future of the global economy, this time while pointing to silver as one of his strongest investments during rising inflation fears. In a May 11 post shared on X, Kiyosaki said strong investors are able to anticipate economic changes before they happen. “The best investors can see the future,” he wrote. Kiyosaki revealed that he began purchasing silver in 1965 when it “cost pennies” and claimed that silver has become one of his best-performing investments in 2026. “In 2026 the global economy is about to crash. That’s good news for those that can see the future. Bad news for the blind,” he added. Kiyosaki later expanded on those concerns in another post on X on May 14, where he urged followers to "TAKE ACTION." He outlined two major risks that he believes will continue driving inflation higher and reducing purchasing power worldwide. According to him, the first threat comes from rising oil prices connected to the Iran war. "As long as the war in Iran rising oil prices will cause inflation and your fist money to decline in purchasing power," he said. The second inflation driver, according to Kiyosaki, is growing government debt and continued money printing. Related: Billionaire hedge fund manager warns of global recession under one specific condition "Nation Debt will cause governments to print more fake money," he wrote. Kiyosaki urged followers to move into what he described as "real money." "Please protect your self, your family and your money," he stated. "Invest in real money, gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum, real money that will go up in purchasing power while fake money steals the wealth of those who do nothing." He also challenged followers who believe such assets are out of reach. "Please do not say ‘I can’t afford real money.’ Those are the words of a poor person," Kiyosaki wrote. "Please ask yourself ‘How can I afford it.’ Those are the words of a rich person." According to Kiyosaki, higher oil prices linked to the Iran conflict are already weakening purchasing power. So far in 2026, Brent crude prices have climbed to around $107 per barrel amid escalating Middle East tensions. During the same period, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar against a basket of major currencies, has remained largely flat. Kiyosaki also pointed to growing government debt as another major source of inflationary pressure. In early 2026, U.S. national debt climbed close to $39 trillion, representing an increase of more than $2 trillion since President Donald Trump returned to office. The investor continued promoting his long-held preference for hard assets over fiat currencies. Billionaire 'Godfather' has a blunt warning on Bitcoin JPMorgan sees one clear winner in crypto right now Trump's $499 gold phone finally ships after months of delays Kiyosaki contrasted "fake money," including the U.S. dollar and other fiat currencies, with assets such as gold, silver, Bitcoin (BTC), and Ethereum (ETH). The U.S. businessman believes those assets are better positioned to preserve purchasing power during inflationary periods. The "Rich Dad Poor Dad" author has built much of his public image around unconventional wealth-building strategies. In a September 2023 interview, Kiyosaki claimed to own 15,000 houses and have more than $1 billion in debt. As Kiyosaki renewed his bullish stance on Bitcoin and alternative assets, lawmakers in Washington moved forward with major crypto legislation. A major step in U.S. crypto regulation took place Thursday, May 14, after the Clarity Act advanced out of the Senate Banking Committee in a bipartisan 15-9 vote. The development marks a significant milestone for one of the most closely watched crypto market structure bills in U.S. history. However, the proposal still faces additional hurdles before becoming law, including approval from the full Senate and House before reaching President Trump’s desk. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act previously passed the House in July 2025 by a 294-134 vote. The legislation seeks to separate oversight responsibilities for digital assets by assigning digital commodities to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) while leaving digital securities under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversight. Markets responded cautiously following the committee vote. Bitcoin briefly moved above $82,000 before stabilizing near $81,500. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at around $80,529. Related: Markets surge as Clarity Act clears Senate committee in landmark 15-9 vote This story was originally published by TheStreet on May 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

'Rich Dad Poor Dad' author says two forces are quietly hurting investors

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