Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki is an American entrepreneur, investor and author best known for his personal finance classic, "Rich Dad Poor Dad," one of the most widely read money-management books of all time. Through his writing, speaking and business ventures, Kiyosaki has become a prominent — and often polarizing — voice in the world of financial education.

Born in Hilo, Hawaii, Kiyosaki is a fourth-generation Japanese American. After graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he served as a helicopter gunship pilot during the Vietnam War. Following his military service, he pursued a series of entrepreneurial ventures, experiencing both successes and high-profile failures. Those experiences would later shape the philosophy he popularized: that financial literacy — not a traditional paycheck — is the foundation of long-term wealth.

Published in 1997, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” contrasts the lessons Kiyosaki says he learned from two father figures: his biological father, whom he describes as highly educated but financially struggling, and the father of a childhood friend, who he portrays as a savvy investor and entrepreneur. The book challenges conventional advice about work, savings and homeownership, emphasizing assets, passive income and entrepreneurship. It spent years on bestseller lists and launched the broader “Rich Dad” brand.

Kiyosaki went on to write numerous follow-ups, including “Cashflow Quadrant” and “Retire Young Retire Rich,” and developed board games, seminars and educational programs centered on investing and wealth-building. He frequently speaks about real estate, small business ownership and skepticism toward traditional financial institutions.

A controversial figure, Kiyosaki has drawn criticism for some of his business seminars and bold economic predictions. Still, his influence on the modern financial literacy movement is undeniable, helping to spark widespread public conversation about investing, debt and the mindset of wealth creation.