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Robert Kiyosaki warned Americans who own 401(k)s that the US could be on the brink of ‘Great Depression.’ Prepare now
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Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Despite a stumble earlier this year, the U.S. stock market has regained its footing — with the S&P 500 going on to reach a series of record highs in 2026. That rally follows Robert Kiyosaki's warning that Americans with stock-heavy retirement accounts could be vulnerable to a major market crash. "DO YOU have a 401(k) or IRA filled with stocks?" the Rich Dad Poor Dad author asked in a July 2025 post on X. "Good luck. We may be on the brink of another 1929 crash and another Great Depression" (1). Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one JPMorgan still sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Learn more with a free guide from Priority Gold The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won't act in time. What to do before the window closes While the market has climbed significantly since then, Kiyosaki has only doubled down on that view. In a March 2026 post on X, he warned that the "Everything Bubble" could burst and urged investors to own gold, silver, Bitcoin and Ethereum as protection against a potential market downturn (2). Kiyosaki's comparison is a dramatic one. From Black Monday on October 28, 1929, to mid-November that year, the Dow lost nearly half its value — and the pain didn't stop there. By the summer of 1932, it had plunged 89% from its peak. Even a fraction of that kind of collapse today would be catastrophic — especially given how heavily 401(k)s and IRAs are tied to the stock market. During the market sell-off in 2022, CBS News reported that 401(k) and IRA plan participants experienced an estimated loss of around $3 trillion. Kiyosaki pointed to an exodus from traditional assets, claiming, "DO YOU know investment legends Warren Buffett and Jim Rogers have sold most if not all of their stocks and bonds?" While Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of equities for 14 straight quarters — and held $373 billion in cash, cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury bills at the end of March 2026 (3) — Kiyosaki didn't cite a source for his claim that Buffett had dumped most of his holdings. Berkshire's latest report still shows hundreds of billions of dollars in equity securities, underscoring that Buffett remains heavily invested in markets even after trimming positions. Rogers, on the other hand, has publicly stated (1), "I sold all my U.S. stocks" and warned that America's debt-fueled economy is headed for trouble. Kiyosaki echoed that concern, writing, "America's debt is out of control. America is the world's biggest debtor nation in history. You can only print money to pay your bills… for so long." According to Treasury Department data, the U.S. national debt now stands at roughly $39.6 trillion, up by more than $2 trillion since Kiyosaki first issued that warning. Given this grim outlook, Kiyosaki has continued doubling down on his preferred alternatives to traditional assets: "I sit tight with gold, silver, & Bitcoin," he wrote on X in July 2025. Here's a closer look at these assets. Kiyosaki's endorsement of gold and silver is nothing new — he's been advocating for precious metals for decades. In October 2023, he predicted on X, "Gold will soon break through $2,100 and then take off. You will wish you had bought gold below $2,000. Next stop, gold $3,700." Prices surged in 2024 and have continued to climb through 2025, recently surpassing $3,700 per ounce. Gold has since blown past that target. After starting 2024 around $2,000 per ounce, gold climbed above $3,000 in 2025 (4) and continued reaching new highs in 2026. The rally was fueled by strong investor demand, including interest in gold as a hedge against economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and market volatility. Gold has long been viewed as a safe-haven investment. It's not tied to any one country, currency or economy. It can't be printed out of thin air like fiat money and investors tend to pile in during times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty — driving up its value. A gold IRA is one option for building up your retirement fund with an inflation-hedging asset. Opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA. With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver. If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today. Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going Kiyosaki said he's "sitting tight" with Bitcoin — no surprise, given his bullish outlook on cryptocurrency. Kiyosaki once called Bitcoin "people's money" and predicted that "Bitcoin [will go from] $500K to $1 million." Bitcoin has also moved significantly since Kiyosaki made those comments. The cryptocurrency climbed above $100,000 for the first time in late 2024 and remained well above its previous cycle highs, though it continues to be a highly volatile asset that can experience sharp swings. He's not alone in this view. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said in May 2024 that Bitcoin could hit "at least" $1 million by 2030 — and possibly go even higher. For those looking to hop on the Bitcoin bandwagon, new crypto platforms have made it easier for everyday investors. If you're looking to diversify beyond traditional stocks and ETFs, Robinhood Crypto lets you buy and sell cryptocurrencies with as little as $1. With some of the lowest trading costs on average in the U.S., you could end up with up to 2.7% more crypto compared to other platforms. Robinhood Crypto makes it easy to make investing a habit with recurring buys on a fixed schedule, while giving you access to all your favorite coins — from Bitcoin and Ethereum to Solana, Dogecoin, XRP and more. You can also transfer crypto securely to other wallets, set custom price alerts, track market trends and manage your portfolio all in one place. Robinhood ensures the security of your cryptocurrency is a top priority, with the majority of coins held in offline cold storage. Robinhood also carries crime insurance against theft and cyber breaches and 24/7 customer support is available if you need help. This isn't Kiyosaki's first 1929 warning. Back in May — after Moody's Ratings downgraded America's credit rating — he warned of a Depression-style collapse and highlighted the power of one particular income-generating asset. "I have always recommended people become entrepreneurs, at least a side hustle and not need job security. Then invest in income-producing real estate, in a crash, which provides steady cash flow," he wrote on X in May 2025 (5). Real estate has long been a favored asset for income-focused investors. While stock markets can swing wildly on headlines, high-quality properties often continue to generate stable rental income. It can also be a powerful hedge against inflation. 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 with inflation. Perhaps that's why Kiyosaki once disclosed he owns 15,000 houses — strictly for investment purposes. 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. - With files from Laura Grande. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP When he dies, Warren Buffett said 90% of his wife's inheritance will go into a single investment. Here's why (and how you can do it too) A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement. What do I do? Don't panic. Here are 7 ways to catch up fast Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines. Yahoo Finance (1); X (2), (3), (4); U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (5); CBS News (6) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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