Robert Kiyosaki

[[File:RichDadPoorDad.jpeg|thumb|165px|right|NOT NOW, DAD]]
{{scam}}
'''Robert Toru Kiyosaki''' {{lived|1947}} is an [[United States|American]] speaker, entrepreneur and real estate investor, most famous as a co-author of the 1997 financial [[self-help]] book '''''Rich Dad, Poor Dad'''''. He has since capitalized on its success with more than a dozen sequels, and with ''Rich Dad LLC'', a financial/entrepreneurship-themed brand of software, games, videos and live events.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Kiyosaki's ongoing legal dispute says everything about the shadiness of personal finance gurus|url=https://slate.com/business/2016/02/robert-kiyosaki-s-ongoing-legal-dispute-says-everything-about-the-shadiness-of-personal-finance-gurus.html|website=Slate|accessdate=6 August 2020}}</ref>

Kiyosaki's website hails him as a "visionary" on a mission "to elevate the financial well-being of humanity."<ref>[https://www.richdad.com/about/robert-t-kiyosaki About Robert T. Kiyosaki]</ref> These lofty ideals are reflected in his books and lectures, which endorse [[scam|completely routine and totally ethical practices]] like strategic bankruptcy, credit card kiting and insider trading.<ref>{{cite web|title=Analysis of Robert Kiyosaki's Rich dad poor dad|url=https://www.johntreed.com/blogs/john-t-reed-s-real-estate-investment-blog/61651011-john-t-reeds-analysis-of-robert-t-kiyosakis-book-rich-dad-poor-dad-part-1|website=www.johntreed.com|publisher=John Reed|accessdate=13 November 2017}}</ref><ref name=CBC-Feb1>{{cite news |title= 'Rich Dad' seminars deceptive: Marketplace|url=http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2010/01/28/consumer-rich-dad-poor-dad-marketplace.html|date= February 1, 2010|publisher=CBC News|accessdate=2010-02-03}}</ref> Putting this advice into practice has yielded Kiyosaki several bankruptcies and lawsuits of his own.<ref name=lawsuit1>Civil Case #07-A-549886-C (Clark Country, Nevada)</ref><ref name=lawsuit2>{{cite news |title= Company Bankruptcy Information for Rich Global LLC|url=http://business-bankruptcies.com/cases/rich-global-llc|date= August 20, 2012|publisher= busbk.com|accessdate=2012-08-20}}</ref>

Although they have sold tens of millions of copies and earned [[Appeal to celebrity|praise from celebrities]], ''Rich Dad'' and its sequels contain numerous factual errors, extremely unlikely [[anecdotes]], and outright self-admitted [[lie]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kiyosaki|first1=Robert T.|title=Rich Dad, Poor Dad|date=2017|publisher=Plata Publishing|isbn=9781612680194|page=7}}</ref> When confronted, he even admitted to fabricating the very existence of his book's eponymous "Rich Dad," but defended himself by describing his work as [[Style over substance|more motivational than informational]].<ref>[https://toughnickel.com/personal-finance/Robert-Kiyosaki-May-Not-Be-the-Financial-Genius-You-Think-He-Is Shocking Revelation: Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad" Is Not Real, but a Myth Like Harry Potter] by K. S. Chang (Jan 19, 2021) ''Tough Nickel''.</ref> For many years he promoted ''Rich Dad'' through the [[multilevel marketing]] company [[Amway]], which continues to endorse and use it as part of recruitment.<ref name=lawsuit1/> ''Rich Dad'' live events, which cost hundreds of dollars or more, are organized and promoted by independent licensees and are not developed, held or attended by Kiyosaki despite featuring his name and likeness prominently.<ref name="MarketPlace">{{cite news |url= http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/road_to_rich_dad/main.html|title= Road to Rich Dad: Who's getting rich off Rich Dad?|author= |date= January 29, 2010|work= Marketplace (Canadian TV program)|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Company|accessdate=2010-01-31}}</ref> Seminars consist mostly of [[Bait-and-switch|advertising for other, even more expensive products or events]]; what little actual advice they ''do'' contain is often so bad that it has led to at least one warning from US law enforcement.<ref>OREC action against Jon Bradham - Case #2005-000339 (Ohio Real Estate Commission)</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Why millions buy Rich Dad, Poor Dad's nonsense|url=https://slate.com/culture/2002/06/why-millions-buy-rich-dad-poor-dad-s-nonsense.html|website=Slate|accessdate=6 August 2020}}</ref>

A self-described "passionate and outspoken advocate for financial education",<ref>[https://www.richdad.com/about/rich-dad About Rich Dad]</ref> Kiyosaki holds strong [[anti-science]], anti-[[education]] and [[anti-intellectual]] views best summarized by the title and content of his book, ''If You Want to Be Rich and Happy, Don't Go To School''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kiyosaki|first1=Robert|title=If You Want to Be Rich & Happy Don't Go to School: Ensuring Lifetime Security for Yourself and Your Children|url=https://archive.org/details/ifyouwanttoberic00kiyo|url-access=registration|date=1 April 1993|publisher=Aslan publications|isbn=978-0944031384|edition=2}}</ref> He frequently encourages students to drop out of school by recalling his relationship with his father, a PhD engineer whom Kiyosaki describes as unemployed and unfulfilled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/qa-robert-kiyosaki-a_students-book-1278.php|title=Q&A: Why Robert Kiyosaki thinks our education system is a bust|author=Sally Herigstad|accessdate=13 April 2016}}</ref> Kiyosaki's actual father was Ralph Hideyuki Kiyosaki {{lived|1919|1991}}, who was a middle-class teacher and superintendent of schools in Hilo, [[Hawaii]].<ref>[http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/07/10/features/story1.html Think rich, get rich: Author of bestselling get-rich guide owes success partly to his poor dad] by Cynthia Oi (July 10, 2000) ''Star-Bulletin''.</ref> His father's middle-class background enabled Kiyosaki to get a good education,<ref>[http://archive.is/wip/etrqN Robert Kiyosaki] ''The Best You'' (archived from 7 Aug 2020 19:43:05 UTC).</ref>  which he has benefited from but not appreciated.

Unsurprisingly, one of his best friends and onetime co-author is [[Donald Trump|a certain other bankruptcy-prone real estate developer with a hostile attitude towards science, education and facts]].<ref name=trump>{{cite book|title=Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message|first1=Donald|last1=Trump|first2=Robert|last2=Kiyosaki|year=2006|publisher=Rich Press|isbn=978-1933914022|url=https://archive.org/details/whywewantyoutobe00trum}}</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.richdad.com RichDad.com]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiyosaki, Robert Toru}}
[[Category:Anti-intellectualism]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Entertainers]]
[[Category:Financial fraud]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Multilevel marketing]]
[[Category:Self help]]
[[Category:Shysters]]

Categories: Anti-intellectualism, Authors, Entertainers, Financial fraud, Living people, Multilevel marketing, Self help, Shysters