How Robert Kiyosaki Built His Wealth Buying Silver at 18 and Smuggling Gold

Before fame or fortune, Robert Kiyosaki made a quiet move at 18 years old into silver, followed years later by smuggled gold, decisions he says changed how he built wealth outside the system.

How Robert Kiyosaki Built His Wealth Outside Government Money With Silver and Smuggled Gold

Rich Dad Poor Dad author and personal finance educator Robert Kiyosaki shared on social media platform X last week how his own investing journey began and why he believes early action, not reassurance from institutions, determines who survives major economic downturns.

The famous author said:

In 1965, I was 18 years old and began saving ‘real silver’ coins. Today I have a lot of real silver coins.

Kiyosaki detailed that he began accumulating silver after the U.S. government removed silver from circulating coins, which he characterized as turning them into “fake coins.” The government phased silver out of most coinage starting in the mid-1960s as higher silver prices led to hoarding, replacing dimes and quarters with copper-nickel alloys and later removing silver from half dollars. Kiyosaki described his actions as a personal choice to hold what he considers real money rather than rely on changes made by authorities.

Read more: Robert Kiyosaki Exposes Brutal Truth Behind Sudden Wealth and Collapse

The acclaimed author explained that the same thinking led him into gold during the monetary upheaval of the early 1970s. He wrote: “In 1971, President Nixon took the dollar off the gold standard. The price of gold became erratic and the world economy blew into an economy of debt.” The following year, he acted on that belief, stating:

In 1972 I bought my first gold coin a South African Krugerrand for $50. I had to smuggle in that coin because it was illegal for Americans to own gold.

He described the purchase as a deliberate move to hold assets outside government control and said his commitment to gold continued over decades. “Today I store my gold and silver in Switzerland just in case.” Kiyosaki added: “Today, on December 10, 2025, that same Gold Krugerrand is worth approximately $4,500,” presenting the increase as proof, in his view, that monetary shifts reward long-term holders of hard assets.

Kiyosaki linked that long-term monetary shift to today’s global debt and economic strain. He wrote: “Today America and Japan are giant debtor nations.” He extended the warning to households, stating:

The American consumer is deeply in debt with mortgages, student loan debt, and credit card debt. Homelessness is exploding…. Even people with jobs are homeless because they cannot afford rent.

The Rich Dad Poor Dad author emphasized that financial crashes build gradually over decades rather than striking without warning, cautioning that dependence on salaries, pensions, or bank deposits can leave individuals vulnerable when conditions deteriorate. His belief underpins his recommendation to hold gold and silver alongside bitcoin, which he views as a form of money outside the traditional banking system, and urged investors to educate themselves and prepare before confidence in fiat currencies weakens.

FAQ ⏰

• Why did Robert Kiyosaki begin saving silver in 1965?

He believed the removal of silver from U.S. coins signaled weakening real money.

• How does Kiyosaki view the end of the gold standard in 1971?

He says it launched decades of debt expansion and monetary instability.

• Why does Kiyosaki store gold and silver outside the U.S.?

He wants tangible assets held beyond government and banking system control.

• What risk does Kiyosaki warn debt-heavy consumers face?

He argues rising household debt leaves families vulnerable during long financial downturns.