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Rich Dad, Poor Dad

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"An asset is something that puts money in my pocket. A liability is something that takes money out of my pocket."

— Robert T. Kiyosaki; Sharon L. Lechter, Rich Dad, Poor Dad (1997)

Introduction

Rich Dad, Poor Dad
 
Full titleRich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
AuthorRobert T. Kiyosaki; Sharon L. Lechter
LanguageEnglish
SubjectPersonal finance; Financial literacy; Entrepreneurship
GenreNonfiction; Personal finance
PublisherWarner Business Books
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback); e-book; audiobook
Pages207
ISBN978-0-446-67745-5
Websiterichdad.com

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a personal-finance book by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter. [1] It frames its lessons through two father figures—a “poor” biological father and a “rich” mentor—to argue for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and building income-producing assets. [2] The book’s dozen short chapters include “lesson one: the rich don’t work for money,” “mind your own business,” and “the history of taxes and the power of corporations.” [3] First self-published in 1997 and later released by Warner Business Books in 2000, it became a sustained bestseller. [4] Publishers Weekly reports cumulative worldwide sales above 44 million copies as of 13 May 2022. [5]

Chapter summary

This outline follows the Warner Business Books paperback edition (2000; 207 pp.; ISBN 0-446-67745-0).[1][6]

🧭 1 – There is a need.

👥 2 – Rich dad, poor dad.

💼 3 – Lesson one: the rich don't work for money.

📚 4 – Lesson two: why teach financial literacy?

🏪 5 – Lesson three: mind your own business.

🏛️ 6 – Lesson four: the history of taxes and the power of corporations.

💡 7 – Lesson five: the rich invent money.

🧠 8 – Lesson six: work to learn—don't work for money.

🧗 9 – Overcoming obstacles.

🚀 10 – Getting started.

📋 11 – Still want more?.

🎓 12 – Epilogue: college education for $7,000.

Background & reception

🖋️ Author & writing. Kiyosaki and coauthor Sharon L. Lechter shaped the book after Kiyosaki and his wife had launched the CASHFLOW board game in 1996. [7] Publishers Weekly recounts that Rich Dad, Poor Dad was first self-published in 1997 via Cashflow Technologies before being taken up by a major house; the widely circulated 2000 edition was issued by Warner Business Books. [5][1] The narrative voice is didactic and parable-driven, presenting contrasting lessons from two “dads.” [8] Discussion of the mentor’s identity has persisted; in 2009 the Honolulu Advertiser quoted Richard Kimi’s family saying Kiyosaki based the character on the late hotelier, who had mentored him. [9] Libraries catalog the 2000 edition with 207 pages and list the familiar sequence of “lessons,” from “the rich don’t work for money” to “work to learn—don’t work for money.” [10]

📈 Commercial reception. By late 1999 the title was a fixture on BusinessWeek bestseller lists; for example, the 7 November 1999 list placed it at No. 3 (TechPress edition). [11] Publishers Weekly’s year-end paperback tally recorded 237,593 copies sold in 1999, crediting the book to TechPress. [12] A 20th-anniversary edition with new material was released by Plata Publishing in 2017. [13] As of 13 May 2022, Publishers Weekly reported lifetime sales “upward of 44 million.” [5]

👍 Praise. USA Today called the book “a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future.” [14] Business Insider has repeatedly included it in recommended lists, describing it as a favorite among real-estate investors and early retirees. [15][16] Marking the franchise’s longevity, Kirkus Reviews called a related Kiyosaki volume “a treasure trove for entrepreneurs.” [17]

👎 Criticism. In a column summarizing Helaine Olen’s critique of celebrity finance advice, The Washington Post cast Kiyosaki’s message—embracing the “right” kind of debt—as a stance to approach with caution. [18] MarketWatch criticized the brand’s seminar arm in a “Stupid Investment of the Week” piece—“‘Rich Dad Academy’ a poor choice for investors.” [19] ABC News reported that Rich Global LLC, a company tied to the franchise, filed for corporate bankruptcy in 2012 following a Learning Annex judgment. [20]

🌍 Impact & adoption. The book remains a staple on widely read “what to read” lists for would-be investors and founders; Business Insider included it in roundups on 14 December 2020 and 9 August 2022. [21][22]

Related content & more

YouTube videos

Load video
YouTube
Animated summary by FightMediocrity (14 min)
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YouTube
Robert Kiyosaki on Rich Dad lessons – Impact Theory (50 min)

CapSach articles

 

Digital Minimalism

 

Four Thousand Weeks

 

The One Thing

 

Make Your Bed

 

The Magic of Thinking Big

 

The Compound Effect

 

CS/Self-improvement book summaries


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Rich dad, poor dad: what the rich teach their kids about money-- that the poor and middle class do not!". WorldCat. OCLC. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Robert Kiyosaki: The Man Behind 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'". Investopedia. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Rich dad, poor dad — Table of contents". LION Libraries Catalog. Libraries Online, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ↑ Seidlinger, Michael (13 May 2022). "Rich Dad, Poor Dad: 25 Years of Financial Advice Books". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Seidlinger, Michael (13 May 2022). "Rich Dad, Poor Dad: 25 Years of Financial Advice Books". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rich dad, poor dad: what the rich teach their kids about money-- that the poor and middle class do not!". Marmot Library Network. Colorado Mountain College. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "Robert Kiyosaki: The Man Behind 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'". Investopedia. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "Robert Kiyosaki: The Man Behind 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'". Investopedia. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  9. ↑ Lum, Curtis (1 February 2009). "Richard Kimi of Hilo, hotel industry pioneer, 83". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Rich dad, poor dad — Table of contents". LION Libraries Catalog. Libraries Online, Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "The Business Week Best Seller List". Bloomberg Businessweek. 7 November 1999. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "PW: Bestsellers of 1999—Paperback: The Usual Suspects Prevail". Publishers Weekly. 10 April 2000. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Rich dad, poor dad: with updates for today's world—and 9 new study session sections (20th anniversary ed.)". WorldCat. OCLC. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Summary and Reviews of Rich Dad, Poor Dad". BookBrowse. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Top money personal-finance book recommendations from successful, wealthy people". Business Insider. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "16 business books successful entrepreneurs read religiously". Business Insider. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "MORE IMPORTANT THAN MONEY". Kirkus Reviews. 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  18. ↑ Singletary, Michelle (5 January 2013). "One cautionary tale you can't afford not to read". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  19. ↑ Jaffe, Chuck (13 July 2007). "'Rich Dad Academy' a poor choice for investors". MarketWatch. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  20. ↑ "'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' Author Files for Bankruptcy for His Company". ABC News. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "16 business books successful entrepreneurs read religiously". Business Insider. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Top money personal-finance book recommendations from successful, wealthy people". Business Insider. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
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