Robert Kiyosaki thinks one of the biggest differences between rich and poor people can be heard in everyday conversation.
The Rich Dad Poor Dad author says phrases such as “I can’t afford it,” “I’ll try,” and “the rich are greedy” reveal how people think about money. In a recent post on X, he argued that repeating those ideas can reinforce a scarcity mindset.
The Phrases Kiyosaki Says Keep People Poor
Kiyosaki’s argument goes beyond positive thinking. His broader point is that wealthy people understand money differently, especially when it comes to income.
He divides income into three categories.
- Earned income comes from wages and usually faces the highest tax burden.
- Portfolio income comes from investments such as retirement accounts.
- Passive income, which Kiyosaki favors, can sometimes receive much lighter tax treatment.
That distinction helps explain one of his favorite examples: Warren Buffett.
Buffett has famously paid a lower effective tax rate than his secretary in some years because most of his wealth comes from investments rather than salary.
ProPublica went further. Using leaked IRS data, one analysis estimated Buffett’s “true tax rate” at just 0.1% between 2014 and 2018 when comparing taxes paid with the rise in his overall wealth.
That figure is controversial because unrealized investment gains are generally not treated as taxable income.
Why Kiyosaki Keeps Telling People to Stop Thinking Like Employees
Kiyosaki has spent years pushing the same broader message: rely less on cash and own assets.
He says he has held gold since 1971, silver since 1965, Bitcoin since 2012, and more recently Ethereum.
His price forecasts often attract attention, and several of his 2026 targets remain well away from current levels.
Still, his central claim is simpler than any market prediction. The way people talk about money, Kiyosaki argues, often reveals how they expect money to work for them.
