Robert Kiyosaki tells his followers that the world stock market is collapsing.
The author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” used recent market volatility in Asia to argue that traditional paper assets are not safe during geopolitical conflicts. In a Facebook post on March 4, Kiyosaki pointed to severe sell-offs on international stock markets as evidence of his long-standing financial philosophy.
“THE WORLD STOCK MARKET IS COLLAPSING,” he wrote.
He specifically highlighted the historic crisis in South Korea. The benchmark KOSPI index fell 12% in a single day, marking the worst drop in the index’s recorded history. The decline was steeper than those seen during the 2008 financial crisis and the aftermath of 9/11.
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“South Korea’s KOSPI was the most popular market in the world just five days ago,” Kiyosaki noted. “It gained 45% in just two months. JPMorgan and Nomura analysts were asking for 7,500 and 8,000. Then, a weekend of war… and 12% disappeared in a single session.”
The liquidation was prompted by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is a critical point for the world’s energy supply, transporting about a fifth of the oil consumed worldwide.
South Korea relies heavily on foreign oil, making its economy vulnerable to disruptions in the Middle East. Following the news, trading on the Seoul Stock Exchange was temporarily halted as circuit breakers were activated. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell 12% and 10%, respectively.
For Kiyosaki, the sudden loss of wealth in South Korea demonstrates the fragility of modern financial markets. “That’s what happens when you create paper wealth in a world that runs on oil,” he wrote.
He also noted declines in other major indices on the same day. Japan’s Nikkei fell more than 3.6%, Germany’s DAX fell 3.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1,200 points at its lowest point during the session. Nearly 90% of all S&P 500 stocks were in the red. Trillions of dollars in market value disappeared in a matter of days.
Kiyosaki’s argument centers on distrust of what he calls “paper assets.” Consider stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s to be promises made by corporations, governments, and Wall Street.
In his opinion, these promises fail during geopolitical instability. “Promises are broken during wars,” he warned.
This perspective is a central part of the financial philosophy he has promoted for decades. Kiyosaki distinguishes between paper assets, which depend on institutions, and “real assets,” which he says are “nobody’s promise but that of nature.”
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He broke down the risk profile of common investments for his followers: “Your stocks? A promise from a corporation. Your bonds? A promise from a government. Your 401k? A promise from Wall Street.”
While traditional markets were falling, Kiyosaki noted that Bitcoin was rising. The cryptocurrency reached $71,000, an increase of 6.5% in 24 hours. He noted that the sudden price jump wiped out $320 million in short positions held by traders betting against the digital asset.
“Meanwhile, Bitcoin fell to $63,000 on the first day of the war,” Kiyosaki noted. “And it’s already back to $71,000. Not because the war is over. But because Bitcoin has no CEO to panic about. No government to degrade it. There is no Strait of Hormuz to close it.”
Kiyosaki uses this contrast to reinforce his investment thesis. He argues that wealthy people prepare for market declines and use them as opportunities to buy assets that others are selling.
“The rich don’t celebrate crises, but they DO prepare for them,” he said. “And when the crisis hits, they are the ones who buy what the panicked middle class is desperately selling.”
“Right now, global markets are teaching the world’s most expensive financial lesson,” Kiyosaki wrote. His conclusion is that investors need to diversify away from the traditional financial system.
He urged his followers to move their wealth into assets outside the control of central banks and political leaders. “Diversify into assets that governments can’t print, politicians can’t promise, and wars can’t destroy,” he advised.
His preferred assets are gold, silver and Bitcoin. It classifies them as real assets that have intrinsic value, unlike fiat currency or corporate stocks.
The recent market volatility illustrates the unpredictability of stocks. The South Korean crisis showed how quickly sentiment can change and how interconnected global markets react to localized conflicts. The dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments means that any disruption in the region can have immediate and serious consequences for economies that rely heavily on energy imports.
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It remains to be seen whether the current crisis represents the massive collapse that Kiyosaki has predicted. Some of his followers noted that US futures and European markets showed signs of recovery shortly after his warning.
“This has aged well… now all green,” one user commented. Another added: “Robert check your phone, all markets are green today.”
For Kiyosaki, short-term bounces don’t change his underlying view. He sees the system of fiat currency and paper assets as fundamentally flawed. He frequently refers to the US dollar as “fake money” and warns about the national debt.
Recent events in the Middle East and turmoil in Asian markets serve as a real-time example of his warnings. When geopolitical tensions rise, the stability of the stock market can quickly be tested. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz demonstrated how geopolitical events can instantly devalue paper assets that depend on global trade and stability.
Kiyosaki’s advice is to prepare for these events by acquiring assets that are not tied to institutional promises. Consider gold, silver and Bitcoin the only reliable stores of value in a volatile world.
Kiyosaki’s message underscores the value of real assets like gold and silver: wealth that is not tied to governments or corporations. Platforms like Metals.io allow investors to purchase physical gold and silver, offering a tangible way to diversify portfolios and protect against market volatility.
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This article ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ author Robert Kiyosaki says ‘the global stock market is crashing’ and warns ‘promises are broken during wars’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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